The Mountain Valley sophomore inspires her lacrosse teammates with her antics and sense of humor.
RUMFORD – Midway through lacrosse practice, Mountain Valley sophomore Jess Allen breaks into song, singing the chorus of the Brittany Spears’ hit, “Oops, I did it again.”
“There she goes again,” laughs lacrosse coach Rick White. “That’s just about what you get from her every day.”
To say Allen is a ham would be, in her teammates’ estimation, an understatement. “Goofball,” they say, is a bit closer, and “nut” is probably the most accurate.
“She loves to make things fun for everyone,” said senior Jess Hanson. “She’s a jokester. She’ll make a fool of herself and not care as long as it makes people around her laugh.”
Being the team clown isn’t the only thing Allen is good at, but it may be the biggest reason she is so well liked among her peers. That the second-year player who cheers in the fall and in the winter is the Falcons’ leading goal-scorer this season is somewhat of a luxury.
“She’s fast, she can handle the stick well and she’s got so much energy,” said White. “Add to that the fact that she always makes people laugh, and she’s really become a leader on this team.”
Called away from practice to answer questions, Allen’s demeanor changes. The smile becomes sheepish, the strides become longer, and the bounce disappears from her step.
“So, what do you want to know?” she asks.
Despite being boisterous and outgoing in a social setting, when it comes to pressure situations, Allen is much more reserved and focused.
“I’m still loud and I really care what happens out there,” said Allen, “but I’d rather the team do well, even if that means that I have to give the ball up more often.”
“She leads by example more than anything,” added White. “She’s quiet about what she does.”
Her 21 goals pace the team, and her six assists tie her with Hanson for the points lead. As with anything else, this apparent points race takes on a laid-back feeling.
“Of course there’s a bit of competition between us,” said Hanson. “Not that anyone really cares who scores and how much we do, but it’s fun. It helps to make us better.”
Allen is just in her second year of playing lacrosse, and started doing so in the first place thanks to her sister, who graduated last year.
“Her sister was the best female athlete at the school last year as a cheerleader and a lacrosse player, and she’s pretty close to that this year,” said White. “And she’s only a sophomore.”
According to Allen, lacrosse is a chance to do something other than cheering.
“I love cheering, don’t get me wrong,” said Allen, “but there’s something nice about being able to come out here and sweat a lot, fall in the mud and get dirty. It’s just fun, and that’s how I try to make it for everyone else.”
Her teammates agree, especially those that have been with the program since its inception four years ago.
“I am with her every season in cheering and in lacrosse,” said senior Melissa Lyons. “The energy she puts out is contagious, and it helps everyone on the team.”
Finished with her interview, Allen returns to team drills. Less than five minutes later, she turns back around, addressing her coach.
“I’m hungry,” Allen says before turning quickly to catch a ball tossed in her direction.
“Some things never change,” says White. “That’s not necessarily a bad thing, either.”
jpelletier@sunjournal.com
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