Lax marked the spot

As a young girl growing up in sports-minded Winthrop, Eva Hynes played soccer, basketball, and softball.

“But I never really stuck with anything before lacrosse became my passion,” said Hynes, 18, who graduated in May from St. Mary’s High School in Lynn where she helped lead the lacrosse team to an 18-0 record this season.

Hynes first connected with lacrosse when she was a seventh grader at Excel Academy in East Boston.

“I read a flyer on the school bulletin board about a youth program that was seeking lacrosse players,” said Hines.

She signed up for Metro Lacrosse, an established youth lacrosse instructional program and league based at Chelsea High’s artificial turf field.

“I loved lacrosse from the beginning,” said Hynes. “It was an exciting, fast-paced sport and I like the teamwork involved in it.”

Hynes, who is 5-foot-4, quickly developed into a very good lacrosse player, one that was a considered a rising talent as an eighth grader. When it came time to pick a high school, St. Mary’s High School was just starting a varsity lacrosse program and that weighed heavily in her decision.

Hynes became a scholar-athlete at St. Mary’s, attaining honor roll recognition all four years while playing four seasons of varsity lacrosse.

Eva was a starting defenseman for three seasons. She was a captain of the 2010 team that won all 18 games (The Lady Spartans lost in the first round of the State Tournament).

“We had a great season – I didn’t really expect to go undefeated,” said Hynes. “Our coach [Doug Lowe) did an amazing job. He helped us work together and he was always inspirational, helping us get through the tough games, especially Bishop Fenwick [High School], who is our rival and we beat them twice this year.”

St. Mary’s Athletic Director Jeff Newhall said Hynes was well respected by her teammates.

“Eva improved her skills in lacrosse every season,” said Newhall. “She set a great example for the younger players in the program with her commitment to the team and the way she always worked hard on the field and in the classroom. She’s also one of our lacrosse pioneers – her first year on the team was the first year our school had a varsity program.”

Hynes says she’s grateful to her parents, Jeff and Kim, for supporting her in all of her endeavors, especially lacrosse.

“They were at all my games,” said Hynes. “My dad is my No. 1 fan.”

Hynes will be continuing her lacrosse career in college. She will attend Lasell College in the fall and major in Fashion Merchandising.