Victory or defeat are irrelevant, the only thing that matters is how you respond to it. When the newburyport girls soccer team lost in the state semi-final in 2011, I could feel the frustration and aguish as Lilly Donavan walked off the field in the rain. What I didn't feel was resignation or despair. The next year Lilly helped lead the Clippersr to a state championship.





Lynn: Newburyport goalkeeper Lilly Donovan turns her face up tp the falling rain after the Clippers 3-0 loss to Canton in the state semi-final game at Manning Field in Lynn. JIm Vaiknoras/staff photo