Marissa Gras really had no idea what she was signing up for.
The Holy Spirit High School girls lacrosse team was in a tough spot and in need of a goalie after an injury to last year’s starter Piper Martin created a hole at the most important position. Gras was an athletic sophomore soccer player who was asked to save the season.
“I never played goalie or even held a stick before,” Gras said with a laugh. “Our athletic director, Steve Normane, was talking to me one day and was saying they needed someone athletic because the team didn’t have a goalie, so I decided to give it a chance.”
Gras began learning the game of lacrosse and the position of goalie for the Absecon Catholic school. It had its learning curves, but at least the transition of joining a new team was smooth, thanks to a group of welcoming teammates.
“I felt comfortable with the team right away, but it took a little while to get the hang of playing because I didn’t know what I was doing,” Gras said. “It took maybe a month or two, and then I got it.”
Gras had plenty of talented athletes who were willing to fire shots at her. Holy Spirit coach Kylie Primeau was a standout at Bishop Eustace Preparatory School, Pennsauken, before joining the Wildcats at Villanova University. Her father, Keith Primeau, was a two-time National Hockey League All-Star who played for the Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers. He contributed some of his time to help break in the new lacrosse goalie for his daughter’s team.
“Mr. Primeau worked with me, and it was very helpful,” Gras said. “He was tough, but I really like tough coaches because it makes me work a lot harder.”
And so did her teammates. The shooting gallery opened, and no one held back.
“It was really scary in the beginning because you have amazing shooters like Brielle Soltys and Maddie Abbott shooting at you,” Gras said. “I got hit in the head a few times, but I got more used to it and more confident as the season went by because of how supportive they were. But I had a lot of bruises during the season, too.”
Gras wasn’t just stepping in to play for any average team. Holy Spirit had made its first appearance in a state championship game in school history in 2022 and was looking to get back there again with a talented roster.
Not only did Gras fit in, she excelled at the position, making 75 saves in 17 games during the spring. She helped the Spartans compile a 14-5 record and get right back to the state championship game. Even though Holy Spirit ended up on the wrong side of the scoreboard in the state final, the team is looking to get back there again in 2024.
“Especially since we went back-to-back and lost both times,” Gras said. “We’re really trying to … make the third time the charm.”
Before that happens, Gras will rejoin the Spartans’ soccer team in the fall, where she has been a starting defender since freshman year. Holy Spirit was 11-3-1 on the soccer pitch last year after a 10-5 season the year prior. She grew up playing club soccer for Hamilton Elite FC in Mays Landing, near where she attended elementary school at Saint Vincent de Paul Regional School.
Her strong soccer background, as well as her teammates, helped with learning a new sport.
“From soccer, I have good hand-eye coordination, and I just kind of picked up lacrosse quickly,” Gras said. “My teammates were very supportive. If I made a mistake, they would boost my confidence and help me. They’d tell me everyone makes mistakes and they’d help me get better and be the best I could for the team.”
at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen”
