Agnes Irwin missed White last year on the field. The team had an uncharacteristically slow start, with losses in three of the first four games, before turning the corner. Along the way, Agnes Irwin avenged two of its early losses, culminating with the Inter-Ac Tournament title. White’s return adds a dynamic presence that was missing.
“One of the things that’s truly unique about Marissa is her ability to anticipate and read the game,” Wray said. “She’s obviously a very good goal scorer, but she’s actually an excellent defender as well. She was always able to create some turnovers and opportunities for us coming out of the defensive end and transitioning down the field. We definitely missed her in the midfield causing turnovers, causing chaos last year. And I think for us as well, offensively she is such a dynamic attacker. She’s multi-faceted. Not only can she dodge, but she’s actually excellent at cutting and receiving with both hands. Having that off ball person for defenders to worry about was another loss last year.”
White had erupted into the high school scene with 100 goals as a freshman for the Owls before missing two seasons. Her first year, she played on a midfield line with Emily Wills (Loyola), Natalie Pansini (Maryland) and Kacy Hogarth (Maryland).
“They really helped me adjust,” White said. “After the first few games, I really just kind of fit in. The pace was faster, but I had a lot of great girls around me. The ball wasn’t really in my stick, so I got to move more off ball, which is more my game. Working off ball and cutting, it’s easier to me. Having the ball in their stick, I was able to work off that when they would get doubled. And in midfield transition, I helped there too.”
White knows things won’t look the same for her this season. One hundred goals isn’t an expectation, but it wasn’t coming into her freshman year, either. Indoor nationals reminded her of the pace of play and gave her an intro into being a team leader, rather than being a role player.
“It’s going to be a lot different,” White said. “I’ll probably be more of the dodger and the facilitator if I was to get doubled. From that standpoint, my role is definitely going to change.”
White is part of a strong senior class and a fast midfield for Agnes Irwin, which also has a veteran core on defense and balanced attack. She is looking forward to helping the Owls compete for Inter-Ac and PAISAA titles, but more than anything, she is looking forward to just playing again.
“The perspective of not being able to, now that I can, I’m not taking it for granted and I’m appreciating all the little things,” White said. “When you’re doing drills, sometimes you’re not really in the moment, or you watch girls and they’re not really focusing. But now after I had to watch and couldn’t play, I really appreciate the little things.”