This spring’s Friday Night Lights event saw mild temperatures, an impressive turnout, and two big victories from Thayer’s varsity lacrosse teams. 

The girls varsity team kicked things off under the lights at Kendall Field April 4 by earning a 13-9 victory over Tabor Academy. Molly Folkard ‘28 played well in goal and received plenty of support from her teammates. Scoring goals for Thayer were: attack player Tess Van Ogtrop ‘26; attack player Hattie DiBattista ‘26; captain and midfielder Elsa Landy ‘25; midfielder Sophie Shone ‘27; and attack player Clare Carlin ‘26. 

Not to be outdone, the boys varsity team beat St. Mark’s School by a score of 16-3. Goalies Garr Long ‘25 and Ned Hentschel ‘25 both saw time for Thayer while several of their teammates found the back of the Lions’ net. Tiger goal-scorers included: captain and attack player Tyler Chouinard; attack player / midfielder Ethan Moore ‘26; midfielder Peter Cappadona ‘27; midfielder Declan Harrington ‘25; attack player Dunnie Shaughnessy ‘28; midfielder Travis Harper ‘25; attack player / midfielder Eli Papadakis ‘28; and attack player / midfielder Mason Croom ‘27. 

“Friday Night Lights was an awesome experience for our entire Thayer community,” said Athletics Director Bobbi Moran, who pointed out that Middle School sports teams actually started the fun with lacrosse and softball games in the afternoon that brought more families onto campus. 

And the community atmosphere didn’t stop there, said Moran. Other highlights included a spirit table and TAPA volunteers who made sure everyone had their black-and-orange swag ready for the game. Then there were Veronica Taylor ‘25, Abbie Dupey ‘26, and Linda Murdock ‘25 — three of the six “queens” in the upcoming Upper School spring musical Six: Teen Edition — who performed the national anthem prior to the girls game. Katie Fortunato ‘28 performed the national anthem just before the boys game. And, in what is quickly becoming a Friday Night Lights tradition, several food trucks satisfied the fans’ appetites throughout the games. 

Moran, who praised the heart and conviction of the girls team in a victory she called “a nail-biter,” offered her thanks to the athletics department, athletic training staff, buildings & grounds crew, security team members, and school administrators who were all on hand to ensure the evening’s success. 

Moran added a special thanks to Mother Nature for providing unseasonably good temperatures in the 50s and 60s for an early spring evening in New England. 

“The good weather allowed everyone to enjoy the experience,” she said.