Editor’s Note: The Trail originally published this story with inaccurate information. The lacrosse game was at 12pm rather than at 7:30pm. We regret this error and have updated the accuracy of our information.
The McIntosh girls’ lacrosse team is adapting to a new coach this year. The team ended last year with an overall record of 13-4 and earning 5-0 in the region.
Nick Bellantoni is the new head coach of the girl’s lacrosse team this season. He is nowhere close to inexperienced, as Bellantoni just finished coaching the wrestling team, and has been coaching nearly twenty years.
“My experience with girls’ lacrosse is one that started in 2009 when I took over the program,” Bellantoni said. “I knew nothing about the sport but had a great group of coaches to work with. I watched, learned, asked questions and continued to get better with my understanding of the game. In 2010 we were Area Champs and we went to the 2nd round of playoffs, 2011 we were Area champs and lost in the semifinals. In 2012 we were area champs and were state runner ups. I stepped down to coach my own children in their own sports and the program became state runner ups the following year. The program has gone through some changes and when I heard they needed a coach I asked if I could come back,” Bellantoni said.
Bellantoni described the team as being hard-working and cooperative, but the biggest struggle for them right now is putting the pieces together.
“Putting all the pieces together means finding all the right combinations, using the right offenses, making sure our defense is tight and we have the right players in the correct positions. We also need to make sure we have the right substitutions in place and we sub at the right times. Staying fresh is key to a game,” Bellantoni said.
Veteran varsity member Francie Elwell (12) is confident in the team’s ability to work together.
“I think our team is really close in general and I think that definitely helps on the field because we have good chemistry with each other and it makes us play a lot better together,” Elwell said.
The girl’s team didn’t struggle much during the 2025 season.
“Last season I would say that our region was pretty easy. [Our main struggle] was having the motivation to play our best, but I think we still looked pretty good last season,” Elwell said.
Elwell has high hopes for this team, this year.
“[Our season so far] has been pretty good. We got a new coach, so everything’s a bit different, but it’s going good so far. [Our goal] is definitely to beat Starr’s Mill and make it past the first round and state.”
The next game will beat home against the Lovett Lions Sat. March 21 at 12:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased on gofan.co.
