The girls lacrosse co-op opened its 2026 season with a 17-8 non-conference loss to the Washington Panthers on March 18 at Golden Babcook Field in Washington, dropping the program to 2-10 all-time against a familiar rival.

The Purple IronCats trailed 8-6 at halftime before the hosts outscored the Community-West-Bloomington co-op 9-2 in the second half.

Community junior Grace Hertz said the team entered the opener believing it had a chance against a Washington team that graduated its senior core from last season.

In the loss, Bloomington High School senior captain Allie Setzler picked up where she left off last season, pacing the offense with five goals. Hertz added the co-op’s other three scores after an uneven start.

It took a few possessions, Hertz said, to find her rhythm after the off-season.

“I had a couple shots [earlier in the game] and a couple penalty shots that didn’t go in,” Hertz said, but the season opener helped her “knock the rust off of my stick and playing.”

Sophomores Annie Wylie and Katerina Wilkerson each added an assist. Community’s Wilkerson also won five of nine draws, a testament to the team’s ability to box out, as the team tried to keep pace with a Washington attack that rarely let up.

That pressure landed squarely on senior goalkeeper Emma Lundy, who made seven saves and allowed 17 goals.

In front of her, a defensive unit anchored by senior captain Maddie Lane, sophomore Maggie Hughes, senior Mae Jones and junior defenseman Nikolina Garrett spent the afternoon trying to contain a Panthers offense that found shooting lanes from difficult spots.

“A lot of people overlook defense,” Garrett said, “but it’s very important.”

Garrett, who called Washington a rival, said the Panthers consistently generated quality looks from tough angles and kept the co-op’s back line on its heels from the opening whistle.

Hertz said the opener still provided a useful early test for the co-op’s newer players before the team got sloppy late.

The Purple IronCats will next face a 3-2 Dunlap team they split with last season, falling 8-7 in the first meeting before responding with a 13-6 win three weeks later.

The Eagles bring a balanced offense into the matchup.

Senior Lily Donaldson enters averaging 2.6 goals and 2.8 assists per game, while senior Gigi Kattom averages 1.8 goals per contest and freshman Sadie Shepherd adds 1.6 goals and 1.2 assists per game. Donaldson also leads Dunlap with 17 shots on goal.

In net, senior AJ Miller has posted a 10.8 goals-against average and a .482 save percentage.

The Purple IronCats return to action today, April 8, on the road against the Eagles.