Paul Limpert had a feeling this would be a special year for the Mason girls lacrosse team.

Limpert had watched the class of 2014 go undefeated as sixth graders and through junior varsity earlier in their career, so with their senior year about to unfold, Limpert beefed up the schedule.

This group plays for each other, and that is the key, Limpert said. They were excited about the opportunity in front of them.

The Comets are 11-5, but are ranked ninth in the Midwest after having played the majority of the teams ranked ahead of them.

I knew I had the players who could handle it, and also because without the challenges that a tough schedule provided, the players would not have grown, Limpert said. As it is, we have measured up to the best in the Midwest as evidenced by the rankings and our results.

Mason has relied on a balanced scoring attack led by Lindsey Zeltwanger with 49 points. Brianna Manns is a point back, Tori Blakeman has 40, Allie Specht 33 and Casey Lawson 28.

Zeltwanger, Manns, Blakeman and Specht have all signed with Division I teams.

Katie Carr, Monica Vermillion, Winnie Bohls and Jackie Leitch have provided the foundation on defense and Alexa Janus and Maggie Lortz have alternated in goal throughout the season.

The Comets concluded the regular season with a trip to Chicago for a tournament against some of the other top teams in the region. Mason lost late leads in all three games.

I guess you could look at all of those losses and say our current number nine rating is accurate, but what Id tell you is that they all served as a training ground for not only our physical and tactical growth, but for our mental and psychological growth as well, Limpert said. We now know we can play with and beat any of them and that makes us dangerous in this (state) tournament.

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Coach believes Comets are state-title contender