Driven to deliver: Treese and Kuser fuel girls lacrosse success

The varsity girls lacrosse team is not only scoring goals but reaching milestones. Anna Treese ’26 and goalkeeper Mikala Kuser ’27 have been paramount to the team’s success.

Treese eclipsed the 200 career points mark on April 2 in a 15-11 home victory over Hun. She has recorded 50 or more goals in each of the past three seasons and leads the team in draw controls.

Kuser reached 400 career saves during the team’s road game at Blair Academy on April 8.

“Sports have always been one of my favorite things to do, lifting, running and working hard at it has been something that’s been ingrained in me for a while,” Treese said. “Since freshman year, being able to keep that routine and work ethic going, and as I get older and gain more game sense, that’s really been able to get me where I am now.”

Kuser also shares the same competitive fire.

“Each goal, no matter the score, is a goal that could tie the score for the other team,” Kuser said. “That’s my mindset and level of competitiveness. I don’t want the other team to take the lead.”

Treese said the team trusts Kuser and depends on her in the cage.

“Especially when it’s an eight-meter, and there’s a shot coming down, even if a defender gets beat, I know Mikala is there. I know she has it and she’s steady in her position,” Treese explained.

Kuser echoed that sentiment.

“She’s very smart with the game clock, and is able to make those shots when we need it,” Kuser said.

The duo has a strong relationship on and off the field. They stay after practice and work on shooting.

“If she needs help with a certain shot, I’ll try and place that,” Treese said. “It helps me work on my shot, and she knows she can try and get better as I shoot on her. She understands how I play and I understand how she plays.”

Head Coach Amanda Vos Strache said both athletes set the standard for work ethic.

“It’s fun to see how they work together to help the other improve,” she said. “You could have no better combo to work on shooting and saves than to have Anna shoot against Mikala each day. To have them on the same team, competing against one another in practice and then aligning against our competitors is a gift.”