Natalia Ochalski broke out this year with 46 goals in the team’s first 17 games. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.)
Natalia Ochalski emerged this season as a prime scoring threat for the Hopewell Valley High girls’ lacrosse team, but the senior’s ability to assist in ways that don’t appear on the stat sheet really helped pave the way for the Bulldogs’ success.
One of Hopewell Valley’s four captains, Ochalski had 46 goals and 14 assists through the Bulldogs’ first 17 games, leading the squad to an 11-6 record. Her willingness to work with the team’s younger players, though, is what scored points with coach Pam Edwards.
“She’s really learned over the years what it means to be a good leader and to reach out to other people and be positive,” Edwards said. “It’s really helped the younger players grow, and it’s helped our team become strong.”
Despite her success, though, Ochalski has time for the younger players in the program.
“She makes them feel part of it, makes them feel that we need them to be successful,” Edwards said. “It’s helped these young kids grow.”
Ochalski has been playing lacrosse since the fourth grade—developing her interest in the sport from a cousin who played in college—but was in her first season as a fulltime starter for Hopewell Valley in 2013. She made the most of her opportunity, leading the team in scoring with 60 points as the Bulldogs prepared to head into state tournament competition in mid-May.
“It feels really good as a senior to have a really good last season,” Ochalski said. “I wasn’t expecting it, but it’s really great. I knew if I stuck it out that my hard work would pay off. That definitely showed this year and I’m very proud of that.”
Ochalski knows what it’s like to arrive at the high school level and feel a little overwhelmed by the game, which fueled her interest in helping the younger players on the squad.
“Coming up from middle school was a huge step,” Ochalski said. “It was kind of a difficult transition. I was kind of scared on the field, I guess; I didn’t have the confidence. But it soon helped me to come out of my shell and become an aggressive player.
“I hope encouraging my younger teammates will give them the confidence to do that. I want them to know it’s a team sport and it takes a team effort. The whole team has a close bond. All the seniors do it. It’s really good to see the underclassmen step up.”
Ochalski is a captain with seniors Alison McCarthy, Alana Kersey and Charlotte Laracy. The players’ willingness to work as a unit allowed the Bulldogs to put together a winning season after going 7-13 a year ago.
Of the Bulldogs’ first six losses this season, five came against Colonial Valley Conference foes — Princeton, West Windsor-Plainsboro North, Allentown and Notre Dame twice — who have a combined 61-8 record.
Sophomore Paige Ackerman was second on the squad in scoring through 17 games, with 41 goals and seven assists, followed by Kersey (26 goals, nine assists), freshman Aiden Cage (23-9) and sophomore Ryan Schrader (12-12). Erin Garrity, a junior, was the team’s top goaltender, recording 107 saves.
“The seniors have really opened themselves up to the underclassmen and made them feel a part of it,” Edwards said. “Everything has been positive. I think they have embraced these younger kids and worked hard with them because they know they need everyone to be able to do this.
“They really talk to each other and respect each other and know that everyone is an integral part whether you’re a starter or coming off the bench. Whatever you can do to help the team is really what we’ve emphasized all season. They’ve done a great job, from the freshmen to the seniors. Our goal was to be a strong cohesive group and to get contributions from everyone. They really have done that.”
Of course, Ochalski’s abilities go beyond talking a good game with teammates.
“She’s taken it on her shoulders to run our offense this year and stepped up,” Edwards said. “She’s a very unselfish player. She feeds the ball well, she goes to goal well, and she has great stick work.”
“Being a senior, I think she stepped up her game to be the best it can be this season,” said Edwards. “As a coach, it’s nice to see she’s elevated her game.”
Ochalski, who doesn’t play any other sports at Hopewell Valley, plans to attend the University of Scranton in the fall and study physical therapy. “I haven’t decided if I’m going to talk to the (lacrosse) coach or not, but it’s definitely a consideration,” Ochalski said. “I love the sport in general, running up and down the field. It kind of clears my mind from everything. I really enjoy it.”
And she shares that enjoyment with all those around her. It proved to be a winning combination this spring.
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