Tasheca McGhie is playing her third season on Highland’s girls’ lacrosse team, and she has been the starting goalie for two seasons.

“She is phenomenal,” said Kim Caso, Highland’s coach. “She always plays her hardest.”

Highland moved up to Class B this season from Class C with a young defense, and McGhie, as a team captain, is helping the new defenders understand their roles at helping stop the Huskies’ opponents.

“She communicates, and she is good at giving instructions of where they need to be,” said Caso. “She’s not afraid of getting hit or hurt. She puts it all out there.”

McGhie is a junior goalie, and she joined the team in ninth grade as a defender before moving to the far back protecting the net.

“I play because I love the sport,” she said. “And I love the girls I play with.”
Highland is now playing some of the best schools in Section 9 after moving up to Class B. A few weeks ago, Highland traveled down the Thruway to play Monroe-Woodbury and fought an aggressive Crusader team. The Crusaders pushed Highland’s young defense and won 20-14. Last week in Montgomery, Valley Central came back in the second half to tie it 10-10, and send the game into overtime. Katie Crofoot then scored for Valley Central early in overtime to win the game 11-10.

“It’s a lot different. More difficult,” said McGhie, of playing goalie. “I feel a lot more pressure.”

But McGhie has learned how to play with the pressure, and she works hard to command the mental game she needs to win if she wants to be successful guarding the net for Highland.

“I just talk myself through it. Just staying calm, not getting in my head,” she said.