On Monday May 18, the Alexandria City High School girls lacrosse team played in the final round of district championships for the first time in their history. Since losing to Fairfax in the first round of the district championship last year, the team has worked hard and practiced six days a week in order to recover and earn their spot back in the district tournament this season.
“In the beginning of the season, we made a goal that we were going to make it to the district final, and we did that,” said senior Eloise Hart. “Even though we lost, it feels really cool that we got to accomplish this and make it to such a great part of our season.”
Despite their loss, the team is proud of their performance and how much they’ve grown and accomplished since last season.
“We fought super hard. Robinson’s a great team,” said ACHS girls varsity lacrosse coach Kyra Lenotti. “We fought till the very end. It’s not exactly the outcome we were looking for, but we didn’t give up. So I’m really glad about that.”
Previously in the Patriot District Tournament, the ACHS girls lacrosse team had two large upsets against the third-seed Lake Braddock and the second-seed Woodson.
Similar to this season, last year, Robinson’s girls and boys lacrosse teams won the district championship against West Potomac. This year, Robinson’s girls lacrosse team is ranked in the top 200 teams nationally with a record of 15-2.
In Lenotti’s second year coaching lacrosse, making it to the final round of the district championships was a huge accomplishment for not only her, but the team as a whole.
Despite this, lacrosse has always been a part of her life. Playing throughout high school for the Westfield Bulldogs in Chantilly, Va., her career came to an end when she tore her ACL twice. Recovering from this, while being unable to play herself, she continued to show her love for lacrosse by deciding to coach the ACHS girls lacrosse team.
“My dad owned a lacrosse league and he’s been coaching ever since I could remember, so that’s what kind of got me into coaching,” said Lenotti.
This 2025-2026 spring season, winning district coach of the year for girls lacrosse, Lenotti continues to display her love for coaching and the sport itself.
“She built a great community of girls, and we’re so happy to have her,” said senior Megan Baisley.
By focusing on “working as a team, trusting each other, and taking care of the ball,” Lenotti was able to use the girls’ hard work, commitment and determination to pave the way to a successful season.
On a more personal level, throughout the season, outside team bonding events helped the team get to know each other better and build a true family; a major contributing factor to their success.
“I feel like with our coaching staff, they can be really hard on us, but they also know how well we work together, and I feel like they have such a good understanding of our team,” said senior Eloise Hart. “And as a team, we’re just so close. It feels like we are all one big family. We do a lot of team bonding outside, and I feel like all of us just have gotten to know each other so well this season.”
Differing from last season, another primary change made this year was the mutual decision made by the team to lift each other up and keep fighting.
“I think this season, the difference is, we just wanted it more,” said Baisley. “I think we were willing to fight a lot harder.”
Giving heartfelt goodbyes to their many seniors, Lenotti and the team are ready to tackle next season with the same hard work and determination.
Senior Megan Baisley has been playing lacrosse since she was in the first grade and has been playing attack on the varsity girls lacrosse team since freshman year. She found her place quickly within the ACHS community along with some of the same girls she has played lacrosse with since she was a kid. Commending Baisley for her honorable mention for the All-District Girls Lacrosse Team this season, the team is sad to see her go but wishes her the best at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she will be attending in the fall.
Eloise Hart is also a senior and has been playing defense on the ACHS varsity girls lacrosse team since she was a freshman and played on the junior varsity team her eighth grade year. Lacrosse has always been an important part of her life as she has been playing for the past 11 years. With Hart also receiving an honorable mention for the All-District Girls Lacrosse Team, the positive attitude and team spirit she brought to the team will be missed as she will attend the University of South Carolina this fall.
Lastly, senior Katie Farrell will be continuing her lacrosse career at Ohio Wesleyan University in the fall. Farrell has been playing lacrosse for six years.
“Our team’s success truly comes from working together and relying on every player on the field,” says Lenotti. “Everyone plays an important role, and team chemistry has been a huge part of our success this season.”
After winning their first round of the regional championship 7-6 against Fairfax, the team advances to the next round of the regional tournament that will take place at home tonight against West Springfield.
“We definitely worked hard this season…no matter win or loss…I’m so proud of us,” said Baisley.
