River Dell varsity girls lacrosse team avenges last year’s loss to DePaul Catholic in the 2022 season opener

Heading into the 2022 season opener against DePaul Catholic, the 2022 River Dell Golden Hawks varsity girls team featured plenty of experience with 11 seniors, eight juniors, and one freshman.

Junior Hannah Esler on this year's team, "This year we have a lot of strong players and it's super cool to have the points and assists distributed." "We don't have one star, and everyone is working together as a team across the board."

The Golden Hawks were looking to avenge last year's loss to the Spartans 12-10. River Dell did not waste any time dominating the game by jumping to a 4-0 lead at the end of the first half.

Junior Logan Quinn on the anticipated rematch against DePaul Catholic and the first half, "You could feel the tension in the game and between the two teams." "That kind of motivated us to play even harder and get a little comfortable."

"When we came out were all hesitant, tense and nervous because it's the first game." "Having that lead let us settle down and we got to move the ball around well and movement and helped us with our confidence."

River Dell did not step off the gas pedal in the second half, tallying seven additional goals as they rolled to the 11-0 victory. Freshman goalie Samantha Idiculla made her varsity debut, registering four saves.

Offensively, six different players scored goals, with senior Lauren Gillies leading the charge posting four goals and three assists. Junior Nicole Gangemi supplied two goals and two assists, Hannah Esler tallied two goals and an assist, and Logan Quinn added a goal and four assists.

Hannah Esler on scoring from Lauren Gillies, Nicole Gangemi, and Logan Quinn. In addition, nothing two goals and adding an assist and the performance of goalie Samantha Idiculla, "Lauren is a great player, a strong player last year and provides a lot of energy for our team and the captain this year." "She motivates us on and off the field." We can always trust Lauren to carry out the plays, set up people, and tell people what to do.

"Logan is really dominant on both sides and always looking to set people up with passes and as a midfielder she's the only one that will run up and down the field the entire game and gets no breaks." "This was Nikki’s (Nicole) first varsity game and she showed up and played amazing." We're excited to see what she does this season.

"My first goal was off a free shot shot because I got pushed, the second one was off an assist from Logan Quinn."

"We all love Sam (Samantha), she is a great goalie and has a lot of potential." "She went into the game a little nervous because it was her first game, but she played so well and to have a shutout her first time playing on varsity is insane."

Logan Quinn on the offensive output, netting a goal, and play of goalie Samantha Idiculla, "Lauren is such a fun teammate, and off the field, she is always funny and smiling." "If someone is having a hard day of practice, she is always there to cheer you and keep you going." She is not afraid to take the ball but looks around to give other teammates an opportunity and doesn't take it all for herself, which is so special about her.

"Hannah and Nicole are very good assets on offense and they're bot like Lauren in not afraid to take the ball to the goal which we need, and I feel that inspires the players around them to do the game." "They're very good at passing and having all of them together on the field just helps the ball go around, their stick skills are good too and they're very athletic."

"I had a few shots in the first half and my shooting was definitely off, so I was getting frustrated." "That made me want to go harder so I just kept pushing so finally to get that goal gave me relief and boosted my confidence and helped me relax."

"She (Samantha Idiculla) definitely proved herself last night and she had really big shoes to fill because our goalie last year was a senior." "For her to come in and play the way she did makes me so happy for her and see her smile when we call came up to her I will definitely never forget that moment."

On Friday, the Golden Hawks return to action with the 2022 regular-season home opener at River Dell High School against Passaic Valley at 4:30 p.m.

Hannah Esler on the build-up for the home opener and message from Head Coach Jessica Rickershauser, "We're all super excited for that and the win against DePaul definitely us in good headspace." "We just have to keep working hard and doing what we're doing and worked super hard in the pre-season."\

"I love playing for River Dell and love River Dell Athletics; lacrosse is a great team sport." "Our team is special, and we have a great group of girls this year." We have a lot of fun and work hard on and off the field."

"Honestly she is a great coach and cares so much." "She really tries to implement things that we do wrong and practice drills to make us improve." "Her big message is always working as a team and there's really no I in team and we should always work as a unit." There should be not one superstar we rely on, and everybody should be working their best together.

Logan Quinn on the 2022 home opener, 12 seniors, and leadership of Head Coach Jessica Rickershauser, "It's special, for a lot of us COVID shut down my freshman year and last year the season was different." "I feel truly we never had a home opener moment." Being on the field for the first scrimmage at home felt so special.

"I can only imagine what Friday is going to feel until I put that jersey on and going to be a really good time and there is going to be a lot of people there." "With all the sporting events going on a good way to show River Dell as a community and everyone is supporting."

"They (12 seniors) are special, and I'm close to them outside of class, and I feel that I have been friends with them forever." "They're all super fun, always so positive, and if someone has a bad practice, they're always the first ones to run over and make sure you cheer up." It shines throughout the whole team and inspires everyone to mark their good behaviors.

"I honestly can't say enough about her (Jessica Rickershauser); she's a great coach and always so positive with us." "She'll tolerate if someone has a bad day and is very understanding." She wants us to try our hardest, and she makes it that we are a team and there's no one-star player and how we should roll. Coach Rickershauser loves to say her message of being a team, and we work as one has shined throughout our program, which is good.