Bishop Ireton Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse Team Wins VISAA Championship

Bishop Ireton's Girls' Lacrosse team won the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Championship, 9-7, Saturday in Richmond, over St. Stephen's & St. Agnes, the 19-year defending champions.

At halftime, the Saints were ahead by 6-5. In the second half, St. Stephen's was able to score one goal, while the Lady Cardinals pulled ahead with four goals. 

This championship followed the Bishop Ireton win in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) over defending champion Good Counsel. 

The Ireton team includes two seniors who are both playing lacrosse in college. Kendall Cunningham will be attending Rhodes College in Memphis and Olivia Cole, the goalie, signed a National Letter of Intent to play at the University of Florida. 

Junior Natalie Irwin, who is committed to the US Naval Academy, said, “I have never felt so accomplished in my life and I owe it all to my team! We came out hard and finished strong to meet our goal." 

The Bishop Ireton team started last June to condition, work out, and to play in club tournaments. On their warm-up shirts, the phrase that was emblazoned on their backs? “It’s not an accident.” 

“The bottom line is that the girls played with a great deal of heart,” said Coach Rick Sofield. "The team has deep talent in almost every position." 

Junior Charlotte Sofield, WCAC’s girl’s lacrosse player of the year, said, “This was our year! We worked hard for 11 months and we knew we could do it!”