Even though she moved to a position with much more responsibility and is often a focal point for opposing teams, Somerby Newton has handled the change and pressure with ease.
Newton, a junior, would have reason to have some hiccups. Despite playing on the Wayland High School varsity lacrosse team since she was a freshman, transitioning from defender to midfielder this year added significant responsibility.
Successful campaigns for the Warriors in her first two seasons — advancing to the round of eight as a freshman and final four last year — only intensifies the spotlight.
“I think the best part about a student-athlete like Somerby is she is very level-headed,” coach Ashley Means said. “She isn’t flashy. She’s confident in what she is doing and she’s consistent with what she does. She doesn’t let the game take over her emotions. If she doesn’t get [the ball] this time, she works harder the next time.”
But watching her on the field, an observer notices that miscues by Newton or being out-hustled are few and far between.
Newton is the team leader in assists (26) and is near the top in draw controls (47), caused turnovers (28), and goal-scoring (14).
“Her demeanor on the field is very calming for kids around her,” Means said. “For the younger kids, the game is so fast that sometimes they don’t make great decisions. But when they see Somerby hustle back and continue to work harder, it’s motivating and inspiring. Her hustle is contagious.”
Playing midfield has allowed her to be among the team leaders in many categories while also being very involved in the game.
“I like playing midfielder because I get to play both offense and defense,” Newton said. “I love being able to play defense and cause a turnover and then be able to go into attack. It feels like that’s my reward for being able to cause a turnover.”
She added that playing a lot in the circle that surrounds the net gives her more opportunity to gain control of the ball and make decisions for the team.
“I love to be in the circle, competing for ground balls,” she said. “It’s very fast-paced, and I feel super involved in the game because I’m playing on both sides [offense and defense].”
Wayland finished its regular season at 9-9, but playing in the ultra-competitive Dual County League has pushed them to the seventh seed — and a first-round bye — in the Division 3 playoffs.
Regardless of how the Warriors finish this season, it’ll be an enjoyable one for Newton. For the first time, she has played with her sister, Allie, a freshman, and her cousin Aine Chase, a junior.
“It’s been really cool playing with my sister and cousin,” Newton said. “It’s a lot of fun to see them after school at practice every day. I always play with my sister in the backyard on the weekends. But this is the first year, officially, that we are on the same team.”
The Newton and Chase families are no strangers to Warriors athletics. Somerby and Allie’s parents, Chris and Erin, both played lacrosse at Wayland; her uncle and grandfather, Sean Chase and Gary Chase, both coached wrestling while Sean’s son, Chase Cicarelli, is a standout wrestler; and Kara Chase, an aunt, coaches field hockey. Chris Newton also coaches football and sailing.
Erin Newton was also a longtime president of the Wayland youth lacrosse program.
Somerby feels the family involvement has certainly aided in her success at WHS, which also includes soccer and indoor track. Newton helped the Warriors to a second-place finish in the Division 4 state championship indoor track meet this past winter.
“The amount of time I spent at the high school going to sporting events was amazing,” Newton explained. “When I was little, in elementary and middle school, I would be at the turf field, on the track, or in the field house all of the time watching [many teams playing].”
Newton was recently selected to the RI/MA Girls’ Lacrosse Select Team, a highly competitive regional all-star team that attends premier national recruiting events, including the USA National Lacrosse Tournament in Brockport, N.Y., on Memorial Day weekend.
