Lily Panuccio was thrown into the fray as a freshman last spring as the starting goalie for the Branford girls’ lacrosse team. Photo courtesy of Lily Panuccio

Some freshmen step onto the varsity field with a sense of fear and intimidation, but that was not the case for Lily Panuccio. Not only was she thrust into the varsity starting lineup, but she was also given one of the most stressful assignments on the field, and she passed the test with flying colors and a great sense of maturity.

Lily began playing lacrosse in first grade before playing at the club level in fifth grade. Along the way, she also picked up field hockey and was also a goalie for the Branford field hockey team in the fall. This past spring, Lily fearlessly stepped into the spotlight as the freshman goalie for the Hornets and put in an admirable performance that earned her Second Team All-SCC honors.

“My whole family plays lacrosse and I love connecting with them and my friends through the sport and reaching our highest level of success together,” says Lily. “What has helped me is my parents, who are very supportive. They drive me to every practice and every game. Being a goalie is a very mentally demanding position, so I’m glad I have my parents and their support.”

As the last line of defense on the field protecting the Hornets’ goal, the mental pressure can weigh heavily on Lily, but she deals with it by simply staying in the moment and knowing her value in making those jaw-dropping saves.

“Goalkeeping is a really difficult position and because of that it’s easy to belittle yourself and feel overwhelmed. It’s easy to blame yourself when things go wrong and forget about the rest of the team,” Lily says. “When there’s a mistake or a goal conceded, you have to remember that the whole team is involved. My favorite part of playing goalie is when you’re making those big saves to help the team or win a game. You can’t think too much about things that went wrong; you have to move on to the next play.”

Lily talks more about the mental aspect of the sport, adding that she knows what she is capable of and that she is a high-level competitor. It also helps that she has the added benefit of an incredible support system of peers and coaches.

“I just try to remind myself that I’m a good player when I’m behind and that I have confidence in my abilities,” Lily says. “I also tell myself that it’s not all up to me and that I have the support of my entire team. A game consists of four quarters, so I have plenty of time to make up for any mistakes.”

Lily is always striving to improve and is very aware that the journey of improvement is one that never ends. She explains that although she works diligently to move her body towards the ball and make spontaneous decisions, her ability to get a message across is quite strong.

“As a player, you can always improve,” says Lily. “I think my communication skills are one of my best strengths, along with focusing on the mental side of being a player and dealing with things. I think I can improve my speed on the ball and my ability to make quick decisions.”

Summing up the 2024 season for Branford, Lily knows that the girls stormed through the season with a rousing start. While they struggled to stay consistent as the season went on, regardless of the outcome of a competition, they won and lost together as a team and grew stronger as a unit.

“We started strong last year,” Lily says. “We had a few issues with consistency, but we stuck together and played together until the end. I think we grew closer together off the field as time went on, too, and that helped make the year so much fun.”

Caitlin O’Brien, head coach of the Branford girls’ lacrosse team, praises Lily for her courage in stepping into the deep end as a freshman, but it’s not surprising how she handled the spotlight, given her unwavering qualities of selflessness and determination.

“This year, freshman Lily has proven to be an invaluable addition to our team. When she took on the role of starting goalkeeper, she handled the immense pressure with grace and determination. Not only is Lily an outstanding athlete, but she is also an exceptional person who has always put the team above all else and given her all on the field in every game,” said O’Brien. “Her dedication and selflessness have made her the backbone of our defense and we are incredibly fortunate to have her on our team. Looking forward, we are incredibly grateful and excited to have Lily with us for the next three seasons.”

Lily is staying grounded and preparing to compete as an excellent stopper on different grass surfaces in the future. She is very happy with her recognition throughout the league. She concludes that she only has to worry about performing at her best every day, regardless of the season, and the rest will take care of itself.

“I try to stay humble,” Lily says. “It was great to be named to the All-SCC Second Team. But I know if I just focus on my game and my skills, good things will come, like team wins. I’m really excited about the rest of my high school career.”