WELL PLAYED: Stuart Country Day School lacrosse star ­­Ani ­Hallowell heads up the field in action last season. Senior attacker Hallowell figures to be a key offensive threat for the Tartans this spring. Stuart team opens its 2012 campaign by playing at Rutgers Prep on April 4. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

As a freshman at Notre Dame High in 2002, Caitlin Grant decided to give lacrosse a try.

Grant took to the game and went on to have a fine career for the Fighting Irish. She then played two years at The College of New Jersey.

After injuries ended her college playing career, Grant got involved in another phase of the game, becoming an assistant coach for the Notre Dame girls’ program while she was still a student at TCNJ.

“My freshman year at Notre Dame was the first year I touched the stick,” said Grant.

“I was lucky to have great coaches along the way, I have been taking in everything I have been taught.”

Now, Grant is applying those lessons as she takes the helm of the Stuart Country Day lacrosse program, ushering in a youth movement for a program in transition.

“We are a very young team,” said Grant, a 2010 TCNJ alum who is replacing Sara Wagner.

“We had our first scrimmage last week and we only had 12 girls. We were starting a lot of freshmen who have never played before.”

With so many lax neophytes, Grant is focusing on the basics. “It goes back to the basics, throwing and catching the ball,” said Grant, whose team opens its 2012 campaign by playing at Rutgers Prep on April 4.

“You don’t need fancy plays. You can have a simple offense, you need to do the core things right.”

The Tartans do have a core of veterans in the Hallowell sisters, senior Ani and sophomore Amy, together with senior Cat Reilly and junior Isabel Soto who have been stepping up.

“The few upperclassmen that we have are very good leaders, they keep the intensity up,” said Grant. “The kids are so coachable; they are sponges. We are learning from each other.”

Grant will be looking for the Hallowell sisters to trigger the offense with juniors Alaina Ungarini and Nicole Andrzejcyk helping out on attack.

The defensive wings will be Reilly and Soto with sophomore Meghan Shannon and a pair of freshmen, Isabel Lapuerta and Vidhi Raturi, playing low defense. Freshman Harlyn Bell is the starting goalie.

Even though Stuart is coming off a 2-10 season, Grant believes the Tartans can be competitive this spring.

“These girls have so much potential, they are picking things up fast,” asserted Grant.

“I am proud of their progress so far. There are a lot of good teams in the areas; everyone is so competitive. I think we can hang with those teams as long as we believe in ourselves.”

Grant believes the team’s success will come down to intensity and execution.

“The keys will be never giving up and being comfortable with ball on the stick,” said Grant.

“Communication on defense is huge. Talking really makes a difference, it keeps you on your toes and it disrupts the offense.

As Grant steps into the head coaching role, she is hoping to make a difference.

“I feel so lucky to have this position, I want us to come out with a bang,” said Grant.

“I want to build a strong program; I want us to be good so people will want to come and play here.”