Seniors DeFranco, Lovell, Montross help FHS girls LAX end strong, 15-8

A decisive home victory against a district rival was a nice way, if making the playoffs wasn’t in the cards, to end the 2021 girls lacrosse season.

Farragut took control of its match against Christian Academy of Knoxville in the final eight minutes of the first half, then slowly increased the margin after halftime for a 15-8 victory at the FHS Lacrosse Field Tuesday evening, April 27.

Led offensively by senior Megan DeFranco’s seven goals and three assists, Farragut finished the 2021 season 8-5 overall and 5-2 in district.

“We had one hard loss that kind of held us back” from making the playoffs, versus Knoxville West, “but we had a really good season; we played some tougher teams and we played well against those tougher teams,” said FHS head coach Pam Hill, a long-time lacrosse youth coach who helped start the Farragut program in 2015. She finished her first season as Lady Ads skipper.

About DeFranco and her other two seniors who played their final high school game for FHS April 27, “Chloe Lovell, she actually stepped in at the last minute as goalie, and she has done a phenomenal job for us the whole season,” Hill said. “Her save percentage is huge.”

Senior Sassy Montross “has been instrumental in our (defense) the whole time,” the coach said. “She’s played (defense) her whole career as far as I know. She did really well.”

DeFranco “plays the whole field, she plays mid(field), attack and (defense),” Hill said.

“All three of our seniors, it’s going to be a hard time without them next year.”

Mackenna Hill, Zoe Butler and Maci McWhirter each scored two goals for Farragut, while Kirra Benchabbat and Kylee Mori popped home one goal apiece. Benchabbat and McWhirter also had assists.

“We have a lot of girls who do a lot of different things,” the Lady Ads skipper said.

The Lady Warriors, led by head coach Holly Kelly, end their season 7-7 overall, 3-3 in district.