The Toll Gate girls lacrosse team is off to a solid start this season as it sits at 2-2 overall and 1-1 in league play. The Titans picked up a pair of wins to begin the season but have since dropped two as they sit at .500

Madison Gautieri and Aubrey Rubeira lead the team in scoring with four goals each while Stella-Blue Kraus and Delanie Wheeler have each scored three goals. 

Wheeler scored a hat trick in the season opener when Toll Gate beat North Providence, 5-1. The team then edged Ponaganset in a 2-1 win before falling to Cranston East 9-8 in a game which they surrendered a four-goal lead. Toll Gate most recently fell to Cranston West in a 12-2 decision.

The Titans played strong defense through their first three games and coach Jim Areson was pleased with the effort in the loss at East.

“We’ve played pretty good D, I thought we played good defense today. We’re hurting a little bit, we’ve got a couple kids injured right now. Every day they’re a little bit better,” said Areson. “It’s a growing process. I thought they played well today, but (Cranston East leading scorer Lily) Tillinghast is a really good player. This game is all about possession, and in the second and third quarter, we didn’t possess it at all.”

Toll Gate’s roster is young with only three seniors in Ayla Paley, Ava Marrocco and Kate Whelan. Rubeira is a sophomore, along with players like Lauren Bastien and Emerson Wheeler. Toll Gate has a large junior core which includes Delanie Wheeler, Tate Payne, Gautieri and Blue-Kraus. 

A key freshman will be Olivia Napolitano, who won the goalie competition in the preseason and has held steady in the early going. 

“She’s played really well. She earned (the starting position) and has been getting better every time she’s out there. She’s done some good things,” said Areson.

The Titans were back in action on Wednesday in a rematch against West but the results were unavailable at press time. Toll Gate will be taking on Classical on Friday night on the road.

As the Titans look to improve and make a playoff run in Division III, Areson hopes that they will improve in practice first.

“We’ve been trying to work on things in practice, and when you’re this young, the only way you’re going to get better is by practice,” said Areson.