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SMITHFIELD – In the search for the perfect ending that evaded them last season, the Smithfield girls lacrosse team has found something so far in 2026.
Perfection.
The final month of the season has arrived and the Sentinels, last year’s Division III runner up, hasn’t lost a game. Smithfield’s done it with chemistry, a terrifying offense and a memory of what happens if you’re not at your best on gameday. Thursday the Sentinels put it all on display in a 13-3 win over Ponaganset that continued their dominance in D-III.
“We are on top of the world right now,” said Smithfield’s Grace Young, who scored five goals in the win. “These girls are like my family. Last year was a tough loss in the [Division III] championship, but we’re coming back for it this year.”
“I’m pretty happy to be having this momentum we’re having this year,” said Annabelle Lally, who had three goals against Ponaganset. “It’s really good. We’re a really strong team, we’re all really good friends on the field and off the field and I feel that chemistry really shows when we play.”
It’s tough to disagree with Lally’s sentiments.
Smithfield had a terrific 2025, going 11-3 – its first winning season in six years – before rolling to the Division III title game, where it was stopped in its tracks by an East Providence team that used its offensive firepower to grab a 14-7 win.
Losing that game was tough, especially for the senior class, but the Sentinels knew what they had coming back and let that result serve as a steady reminder of what they didn’t want to have happen again.
Talent – and Smithfield has loads of it back this spring – has been key, but chemistry is what’s helped the program progressing forward. The Sentinels are there for one another on and off the field, whether it’s the stars, starters, backups or JV. There were plenty of cheers from the sidelines during the varsity game, but those cheers may have been outdone by the varsity group who remained on the sidelines to support the junior varsity squad.
Lally came into the game chasing her 100th career goal. Her teammates were aware and tried to get her looks, but the junior wasn’t taking opportunities that weren’t there. She scored twice in the first quarter, helping Smithfield take a 4-1 lead, but Young and Lilianna Goodrich had the tallies in the second quarter.
Finally, with 9:18 left, Lally got an opportunity after a shooting space call. She converted the shot and instantly ran to celebrate with her team and, as coach Jay Areson called for a timeout, the Sentinels – all 40-plus of them – ran on the field with balloons to celebrate with their star.
“Today to just come out here and make it happen was really amazing,” said Lally, who has kept it as a goal in the back of her head since freshman year. “My team was behind me every step of the way.
“I love these people. They’re so awesome. They were the first ones out there to congratulate me and it was so awesome.”
Lally and Young are only a part of the scoring punch. Lexi Johnson-McMahon had a spectacular freshman season and her stick skills, athleticism and intensity gives Areson options with where she can play. Johnson-McMahon can score, control the game from the midfield or be a shutdown defender.
Offensively, Smithfield is loaded with talent. The midfield and defense might be better, as Ponaganset found out Thursday. The Chieftains scored the first goal of the game on an Eve Dexter shot 1:28 into the first quarter, but didn’t have much as far as offensive possessions go the rest of the night.
When Pono had the ball, Smithfield swarmed. It created pressure, created turnovers and turned those into goals.
“It’s very important to us to move through the middle and make sure we connect those passes through the middle,” Young said. “Obviously those girls and very good [covering] two people at once. When we connect those passes, they lead us right to the goal.”
“Our chemistry creates the balance,” Lally said. “We have so many different people that can score. It’s not just one person, it’s not just our midfield, it’s not just our attacks.
“Every single person, every single time we put a new line in, they can score and that just shows when we go out there.”
Eight games into the season, Smithfield has outscored its opposition 107-31. The Sentinels have five games left – a sixth against North Providence has been forfeited – and none are against a team with a winning record.
The No. 1 seed in the Division III playoffs seems like a lock. A berth in the D-III championship game seems like a guarantee. Seems like the town might as well start planning a victory parade as well.
But Smithfield isn’t there. It knows it has the talent, work ethic and all the intangibles to win a title.
The Sentinels also know what can happen if you’re not championship ready for a championship game.
“It definitely fuels our fire. We are ready to win this year,” Young said. “We need to just keep doing what we’re doing. All these ladies have amazing talents on the field and off the field and we just need to keep doing what we’re doing and we’ll be successful.”
“This year is our year – it’s our redemption arc after last year and we’re showing that,” Lally said. “ We’re coming for it. Our coach wants it and he’s pushing us every day in practice.
“… It’s just really good to see what we can do together and I’m loving what we’re doing.”
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Score from Ponaganset at Smithfield girls lacrosse on Thursday April 30
Continue reading...
Perfection.
The final month of the season has arrived and the Sentinels, last year’s Division III runner up, hasn’t lost a game. Smithfield’s done it with chemistry, a terrifying offense and a memory of what happens if you’re not at your best on gameday. Thursday the Sentinels put it all on display in a 13-3 win over Ponaganset that continued their dominance in D-III.
“We are on top of the world right now,” said Smithfield’s Grace Young, who scored five goals in the win. “These girls are like my family. Last year was a tough loss in the [Division III] championship, but we’re coming back for it this year.”
“I’m pretty happy to be having this momentum we’re having this year,” said Annabelle Lally, who had three goals against Ponaganset. “It’s really good. We’re a really strong team, we’re all really good friends on the field and off the field and I feel that chemistry really shows when we play.”
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It’s tough to disagree with Lally’s sentiments.
Smithfield had a terrific 2025, going 11-3 – its first winning season in six years – before rolling to the Division III title game, where it was stopped in its tracks by an East Providence team that used its offensive firepower to grab a 14-7 win.
Losing that game was tough, especially for the senior class, but the Sentinels knew what they had coming back and let that result serve as a steady reminder of what they didn’t want to have happen again.
Talent – and Smithfield has loads of it back this spring – has been key, but chemistry is what’s helped the program progressing forward. The Sentinels are there for one another on and off the field, whether it’s the stars, starters, backups or JV. There were plenty of cheers from the sidelines during the varsity game, but those cheers may have been outdone by the varsity group who remained on the sidelines to support the junior varsity squad.
Lally came into the game chasing her 100th career goal. Her teammates were aware and tried to get her looks, but the junior wasn’t taking opportunities that weren’t there. She scored twice in the first quarter, helping Smithfield take a 4-1 lead, but Young and Lilianna Goodrich had the tallies in the second quarter.
Finally, with 9:18 left, Lally got an opportunity after a shooting space call. She converted the shot and instantly ran to celebrate with her team and, as coach Jay Areson called for a timeout, the Sentinels – all 40-plus of them – ran on the field with balloons to celebrate with their star.
“Today to just come out here and make it happen was really amazing,” said Lally, who has kept it as a goal in the back of her head since freshman year. “My team was behind me every step of the way.
“I love these people. They’re so awesome. They were the first ones out there to congratulate me and it was so awesome.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Lally and Young are only a part of the scoring punch. Lexi Johnson-McMahon had a spectacular freshman season and her stick skills, athleticism and intensity gives Areson options with where she can play. Johnson-McMahon can score, control the game from the midfield or be a shutdown defender.
Offensively, Smithfield is loaded with talent. The midfield and defense might be better, as Ponaganset found out Thursday. The Chieftains scored the first goal of the game on an Eve Dexter shot 1:28 into the first quarter, but didn’t have much as far as offensive possessions go the rest of the night.
When Pono had the ball, Smithfield swarmed. It created pressure, created turnovers and turned those into goals.
“It’s very important to us to move through the middle and make sure we connect those passes through the middle,” Young said. “Obviously those girls and very good [covering] two people at once. When we connect those passes, they lead us right to the goal.”
“Our chemistry creates the balance,” Lally said. “We have so many different people that can score. It’s not just one person, it’s not just our midfield, it’s not just our attacks.
“Every single person, every single time we put a new line in, they can score and that just shows when we go out there.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Eight games into the season, Smithfield has outscored its opposition 107-31. The Sentinels have five games left – a sixth against North Providence has been forfeited – and none are against a team with a winning record.
The No. 1 seed in the Division III playoffs seems like a lock. A berth in the D-III championship game seems like a guarantee. Seems like the town might as well start planning a victory parade as well.
But Smithfield isn’t there. It knows it has the talent, work ethic and all the intangibles to win a title.
The Sentinels also know what can happen if you’re not championship ready for a championship game.
“It definitely fuels our fire. We are ready to win this year,” Young said. “We need to just keep doing what we’re doing. All these ladies have amazing talents on the field and off the field and we just need to keep doing what we’re doing and we’ll be successful.”
“This year is our year – it’s our redemption arc after last year and we’re showing that,” Lally said. “ We’re coming for it. Our coach wants it and he’s pushing us every day in practice.
“… It’s just really good to see what we can do together and I’m loving what we’re doing.”
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Score from Ponaganset at Smithfield girls lacrosse on Thursday April 30
Continue reading...
