Athlete Of The Week: Megan Sullivan

NORTH EASTHAM – When the Nauset girls lacrosse game against Nantucket began Monday, junior Megan Sullivan’s offense impact manifested nearly instantaneously.

Less than 30 seconds in, Sullivan put the Warriors ahead 1-0. Less than two minutes later, she added another. In the second quarter after the Whalers had stormed back to take the lead, Sullivan tied the game up 4-4 with her third goal of the afternoon.

While the Warriors went on to fall 10-9, it would have been a different game altogether were it not for Sullivan’s early flurry of scores.

“She's always been a great player,” head coach Heather Stevens said. “Super hard shots. I think she's just more confident this year.”

It took just two passes by the Warriors to get the ball to Sullivan for the first score. Junior midfielder Julia Kipperman won the opening draw and dished the ball to junior Samantha Curley, who swung it to Sullivan.

For her second, Sullivan received the ball behind Nantucket’s net then quickly stepped right in front for the point-blank look. On her third of the day, Sullivan hit the shot moving to her right.

“My sweet spot is definitely behind the net,” she said. “That's one of my best strategies, is going behind the net and shooting and also cutting.”

Sullivan has six goals total in three games to begin the year for the Warriors. Her three goals and five shots were both second-most among the team Monday, only behind Kipperman’s tallies of six goals on 14 shots.

“It was definitely a team effort,” Sullivan said. “We were all cutting. We were all doing incredible.”