Originally published June 21, 2019 at 8:02 p.m., updated June 21, 2019 at 8:03 p.m.
Mara Guerrieri was apprehensive when her mom, MeLynda, suggested going to a lacrosse camp when she was in middle school.
Three-quarters of the way through her high school career, the Canfield goalkeeper has helped lead the Cardinals to a regional semifinal appearance, earn a first-team spot on the All-Region team and secure a spot in a college program.
“When she first asked if I wanted to do the camp, I said no way,” Guerrieri said. “I only knew that it was a sweaty, violent game. Why would I want to play it? I got one friend to join me. We started practicing and started to enjoy it.”
Guerrieri plays, perhaps, the most difficult position on the field.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a goalkeeper, it’s that you can’t put a lot of pressure on yourself,” Guerrieri said. “I’ve learned from experience, if you do put pressure on yourself, you get really down on yourself and your team.
“It will make you play worse. I try to take the attitude that whatever happens, happens and trust in my ability and in my team,” she said.
That approach helped Guerrieri record 176 saves — 61.1 percent of shots against her — 24 ground balls and 26 interceptions. She also scored a goal.
“Something I lacked for a long time were instincts,” Guerrieri said. “I didn’t have the experience because I started so late.
“My instincts have gotten quicker,” she said. “When I save one shot, I am better at saving the second one [after an offensive rebound]. Those second shots are something no one expects a goalie to stop, especially the closer they are to the cage.
“When my feet are ready and everything is active, it’s easier for me.”
Maybe most importantly, Guerrieri carries a 4.0 grade-point average and scored a 32 on the ACT.
Between her stats on the field and in the classroom, Guerrieri has earned enough in scholarship money to pay for her education at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pa.
Looking back on the Cardinals’ season, Guerrieri doesn’t cite her statistics or even the Cardinals’ results when she thinks about what she enjoyed most.
“I think the most enjoyable thing for me was seeing the girls bond together and learn to trust each other from the first to the last game,” Guerrieri said. “It was really nice to experience. Our girls have grown so much.”
— Bob Ettinger, The Vindicator