Smiles exchange from one side of the field to the other as the ball is passed  between each lacrosse player, and a feeling of unity is felt through the team. This team’s strong bond has helped team member Julia Krebs survive through some health issues.

“A specific moment that really stuck with me during this season was when I dealt with some health issues a little while ago, and everyone was genuinely concerned about my well being,” Krebs said. “I was overwhelmed with all of the concern and support from everyone. It meant a lot to me to know that they all cared if I was okay.”

The Bowie girl’s lacrosse team is made up of girls from all grades and is a fast-paced and exciting sport where experience is not necessary.

This team has made players feel like they have a place while creating some impactful memories, especially for a junior foreign exchange student Luana Lopez in a game where she helped secure a win.

“The minute my coach put me on the field the song ‘Hell’s Bells’ from AC/DC was playing and that means a lot to me because they play it when my favorite soccer team, St. Pauli, steps on the field,” Lopez said. “It gave me goosebumps.”

Some look at lacrosse as a rare combination of many different sports such as  soccer, hockey, and football, too.

“It’s sort of similar to soccer, but we use sticks to carry the ball and throw it around,” Krebs said. “It’s really fun and it’s very unique in a way that no other sports can emulate.”

As of March 25, the team’s overall record is 4-0 in their district.

“Most of the people on the JV team played lacrosse for the first time at the beginning of this school year, and we’ve won against many teams where the girls have played all throughout middle school,” Krebs said.

The team is full of hard working girls who practice on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, Varsity Coach Jesse McCarthy explained.

“Bowie lacrosse is a community of incredible people (players, parents and coaches) who are truly focused on the success of all who are involved, both individually and as a team,” McCarthy said.

Although lacrosse isn’t the biggest sport and therefore not as known,  it is growing in enrollment.

“Most of the girls on the varsity team this year are seniors, so we may not have as many players in years to come, but I think we can still be successful if we work hard enough,” Krebs said.

At Bowie, the interest of the club is growing, junior Veronica Cruz explains.

“I just got into lacrosse this year, it’s my first year to ever play, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” Cruz said.

The lacrosse community couldn’t be complete without the work of the coaches and their goal to impact their players in more than one way.

“I continue to coach because seeing each girl grow and start to believe in herself and her capabilities is one of the most rewarding things I could imagine doing,” McCarthy said.

The goal for McCarthy goes farther than just coaching.

“I can only hope to impact my players in a way that carries well beyond lacrosse.”

The team is built upon the foundation the coaches have developed, goalie Brianna Martinez explains.

“They really have showed us the best and worked on our weaknesses and  made us better individually,” Martinez said.

For Martinez, she wouldn’t have her coaches any other way.

“I am very grateful to have them as my coaches and mentors and I’m  very proud to say that they are my coaches.”

The team bond is very strong, which one of the reasons they have traditions that include team dinners on most Fridays, and on most game days there is a team breakfast at school that consists of donuts or breakfast tacos.

“Anyone can join lacrosse, even if you aren’t particularly athletic, like me, but the coaches still did a super great job of getting us in shape and creating a very strong team,” Krebs said.

Although it is nice to win, the coaches main goal is to teach them life long lessons that they can use beyond the sport.

“My true expectations are that every player learns something new every day and is excited to play every time they step on the field,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy looks forward to what the program can grow into as well.

“My hope is that this excitement promotes a dedication to continued improvement and commitment that builds a program that all current and future players feel is fun and successful,” McCarthy said.

The memories from the times with this sport are some of the most important tokens the girls can take away from their experience on the team, as junior goalie Sam Lopez explains one of her favorites.

“The best part of this season was probably the first game we had against Dripping Springs it was our first ‘real’ game and we won, we all came together and performed amazingly on the field,” Lopez said.

Many people are starting to understand the beauty of lacrosse, vice president Rosa Heim explains the increase in interest in the sport all over the country.

“It’s one of the fastest growing sports in the country and although most popular in the Northeast and East Coasts, it is gaining steam in Texas,” Heim said.

Even though lacrosse is getting more popular, it is still a sport that not many know of. Despite this, it has affected people in more ways than just keeping them in shape.

“As a coach, my favorite memory was off the field when a player texted me to say thank you, not only for teaching her lacrosse but for teaching her to believe in and trust herself,” McCarthy said.

Having faith in one’s self is what the sport is truly all about.

“That is what this is all really about, and is something I will carry with me forever.”