After a prominent seven-year career, head girls lacrosse coach, Abigail Cohn, is stepping down from her position.
With over 60 wins and two sectional titles, Cohn is the most successful girls lacrosse coach in program history. “Abby brought the program to the next level and kept working to attain that illustrious championship cup,” said WHS athletic director Sandy Mamary.
Cohn stated to her former team that she was stepping down in order to pursue a masters degree and search for a new job in school administration. With the rigorous hours required and scheduling conflicts, Cohn thought it was best for the Blue Devils to have a coach who could completely devote themselves to the team.
Cohn has left an unimaginable mark on the girls lacrosse program in turn; however, this program impacted Cohn in more ways than one.
Starting her career at the age of 22, Cohn lacked experience but when the opportunity arose she stepped into the role of varsity coach. Cohn’s competitive nature as a collegiate athlete followed her to the Blue Devils. “Prior to accepting the job, I knew the program was successful and competitive from my days of playing in high school, so I was prepared for that and that fact was what excited me the most.”
The Blue Devils have sported a tradition of winning that Cohn strove to maintain over her years as coach but she chose to make this a part of the team and herself. “I always felt as though because I put so much time and effort into our team, that I always wanted to be as successful as possible. Being a part of Westfield athletics means becoming a part of a ‘winning culture’. I quickly understood that I had the potential to contribute to that.”
While Cohn wants to further her professional career, she does not want to relinquish her coaching title completely. “The feeling of being a witness to an individual athlete or team’s growth and success, no matter how big or small, is an indescribable feeling,” said Cohn. She plans on continuing to coach for Triple Threat lacrosse club and will consider coaching a varsity lacrosse team in the future if her schedule permits.
“At my school a few of my colleagues refer to me as ‘coach’ because they know how passionate I am about being one,” Cohn shared. “As I said before, serving in this role I have always felt so proud.”
The girls lacrosse team is looking brightly to their future with a strong foundation built by Cohn and the entire coaching staff. Former captain Ella McLane remarked that the change, “will definitely be different, especially since most of the returners have only been coached by her, but I think the team will become stronger and better as a whole. Especially with Coach DaSilva on the coaching staff, it is a new chapter in Westfield Girls Lacrosse that I think many are looking forward to.”
Coach DaSilva has been serving as assistant coach for a number of years and the players will turn to her for guidance. DaSilva stated, “Coach Abby’s absence will not go unnoticed, but I am looking forward to seeing what this talented group of athletes will do under new leadership. ”
While a large shift in coaching will have a great impact on a team, Mamary hopes that “they will adjust as any competitive team should.” Being such a successful team, Mamary knows the Blue Devils felt the pressure of success following the most recent sectional title win but, looking to the future, she believes they will “continue the type of competitiveness all of our teams have.”
With a large incoming senior class and a competitive schedule, it will be noteworthy to watch how these girls handle this shift.
