Amid Guards season of adversity, Rachel Clark sets WLL scoring standard
Rachel Clark has a simple mission ahead of the Boston Guards regular-season finale against the California Palms on Saturday.Despite not playing for the playoffs, were just excited to get this group together one more time and hopefully come away with a win, Clark said. We know what were capable of. Weve always been trying to prove that in this inaugural season. We want to go out with a bang and let everyone know who the Boston Guard is.With a 21-17 loss to the Maryland Charm on July 17, Boston fell to 0-3 and was eliminated from WLL Championship contention. Throughout the year, the Guard dealt with key injuries across the field, including Charlotte North, Cassidy Weeks and Hannah Dorney.Moments after the defeat sealed the teams fate, Boston coach Laurie DeLuca dubbed her squads 2026 campaign The Season of Adversity in her postgame press conference.Were in an adverse situation right now, DeLuca said. There are sometimes things that dont go your way. Thats life.But in a season marred by injuries and challenging results, Clark has emerged atop the WLL scoring charts. In three games, Clark has buried a league-best 16 goals and tied Marylands Brigid Duffy and Ashley Humphrey with a WLL-high 20 points.Last time out, she set WLL single-game records in goals (nine) and points (11) as an improbable Guard comeback fell painstakingly short in Fairfield. Still, Clark chalked up her success to just executing her job.Ive always prided myself in outworking everyone, Clark said. Knowing that Im surrounded by the best of the best, I have to be my best in order to compete. I want to represent Boston as best I can. I dont want to let anyone down. My job as an attacker is to put goals in the back of the net and put points on the board.Clark has sought to elevate her crease game to evolve her bag of tricks beyond that of a typical downhill dodger. Its been a necessity in 10v10 play, especially with changeover and moving pieces across the Boston attack.While pouring in countless hours in conditioning and individual work behind the scenes, Clark has no shortage of fuel.I get to play against the best players I grew up watching and wanting to be like, so that gives me an extra level of motivation because I want to be able to hang with literal lacrosse legends, Clark said. I pinch myself every single time I step foot on the field.As shes grappled with a disappointing summer from a win-loss standpoint, Clark has leaned on lessons she learned from her first foray into the college coaching sphere at Florida State this past year. There, she joined a staff tasked with taking an upstart program into the proverbial fire of ACC play.Although she separates her coaching cap from her player brain, Clark finds that the two frames of mind are constantly interwoven. It certainly helped that shed often jump into scout-team reps to keep her stick skills sharp throughout the spring.The biggest thing Ive learned as a coach is getting the girls to play together, and thats really hard because we were a brand new team, Clark said. Then playing for the Boston Guard for the first time, its a pretty brand new team. We always have new girls being brought up. As a coach for a brand new program, you see the importance of team culture, setting standards.Saturdays game at Harvard Stadium carries extra significance for Clark, who played the final two seasons of her college career less than five miles away at Boston College. Shes one of nine BC alums on the Guard roster.We know the Boston crowd is going to show up and show out for us, regardless of how the seasons gone, Clark said. We just want to make them proud, represent Boston, play Boston lacrosse and come with a win. That is the expectation. Its a non-negotiable for us. Were pumped up and dont care about the losses this season.The Devon, Pa., native racked up 151 points in two seasons at Virginia, but Clark coveted a new challenge and entered the transfer portal before her junior year. After the attacker signed with the Eagles, then-assistant coach Sam Apuzzo took Clark under her wing.The results proved transformative. Clark won a national title in 2024 and was a Tewaaraton Award finalist the following year. She amassed 229 points in two seasons at Boston College, spearheading one of the nations most high-octane offensive units.The whole coaching staff is unbelievable, but Sam in particular, shes a genius, Clark said. I was surrounded by players who lived and breathed the game. We approached the game not just as players but also students of the game.As Clark and her Boston teammates prepare to leave a final impression of Guard lacrosse on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. ET, theyre expecting a gritty battle with the Palms. California knocked off Boston 17-15 in Charlotte on June 6 and will advance to the WLL Championship barring a 10-plus-goal loss.Clark isnt focused on her teams outside chance at playing the spoiler. Instead, the Guard are sticking to their game plan, which begins with dominant play on the draw from rookie Maddie Epke. From there, Clark feels she and her fellow attackers are ready to execute when their numbers are called.The offense needs to do its job, Clark said. We need to put the ball in the back of the net. We need a high shooting percentage. Weve had way too many turnovers these past couple of games, so we want to be in control and dominate. With a draw taker like we have and goalies that we have, theyre always locked down back there. We want to play really pretty lacrosse but also play with a little bit of a chip on our shoulder and be dogs out there.
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