The varsity program is in its third year of existence, yet the Hopkinton girls lacrosse team is competing for a playoff spot. With a 9-5 win against Merrimack Valley on Saturday, May 17, Hopkinton upped its record to 5-7 and can finish with a .500 regular season by defeating 4-8 Plymouth, on Tuesday, May 20, and 4-9 Pelham on Friday, May 23.

That still may not be enough to earn a Division-III postseason berth.

“It all depends on what happens with the teams in front of us,” said second-year head coach Curt Martin. “We set a goal that we wanted to make the playoffs this year because we felt like we were right there with the majority of the division, and so far the scores reflect that.”

Indeed, Hopkinton has been competitive in all but two contests. With the exception of lopsided losses to D-III superpowers Portsmouth and Hollis, the Lady Hawks have outscored their opponents, 93-77.

Hopkinton has posted a 17-4 triumph at Somersworth, a 12- 3 victory at Derryfield and 16-2 win at Pembroke.

And the team continues to mature.

“It’s been frustrating at times, in the sense that some of those games we’ve been leading or right there on the doorstep and end up losing because of a mental breakdown,” said Martin. “But Saturday’s game against Merrimack Valley is probably the best game we’ve played in terms of maintaining our focus all 50 minutes. If we played that way a few of the other games, I think the outcomes may have been different.”

Still, that growth gives Martin hope for the future, especially next season when he returns 20 of 23 players, including 11 current juniors, four sophomores and five freshmen.

“We have a lot of playing experience returning. A lot of those juniors have been playing varsity since freshman year,” said Martin.

However, losing senior captains Elyssa Bairstow, an attack wing, Kristen Murphy, a defenseman, and Pam Kelig, the team’s goalie, won’t be easily overcome.

While the offense of junior Steff Bailey and sophomores Kaley Cook and Danielle Gonzales has led the attack, it’s been the defensive presence that has fueled most of the team’s victories, said Martin.

Leading the backfield this season are juniors Sarah Dobe, Meg Wilson, Brittany Dow and Brooke Porter.

Junior Amanda Moody and freshman Nicole Mitchell have provided defensive depth. Others playing for the Lady Hawks this season include juniors Hanna Gesen, Mackenzie Migdal, Abby Pfeiffer, Amy Smith and Becca Trento; sophomores Claudia Lawton and Jessica Pennell; and freshmen Becca Dow, Nicole Kimball, Alysson Moody and Hallet Sargent.

“It’s been a fun, hard-working group of kids that’s really been a pleasure to coach this season,” said Martin. “I think this team should continue to get better and better each year.”

When they’ve lost, it’s typically been by two or three goals. When they’ve won, it’s generally been in convincing fashion.