RallyNorth.net

Family, teammates and others rally for injured Masco teen

Tuesday, May, 06 By Ethan Forman and Bruno Matarazzo Jr.
Staff writer

Number 14 wasn't suited up and on the field yesterday in the Masconomet Chieftains girls lacrosse game against Ipswich.

But Kate Evans' presence, as well as her uniform number, were everywhere -- both on the field and on the sidelines.

Her teammates honored Evans, 17, who was upgraded to fair condition from critical last night at Boston Medical Center, where she's been recovering from an early-Saturday-morning car crash on Peabody Street.

The junior honors student and lacrosse defenseman from Boxford was injured when the Toyota Prius she was driving struck a tree on a wet and winding road, Middleton police Chief James DiGianvittorio said.

Evans, who was alone in the car, was taken to Beverly Hospital and then flown to Boston Medical Center, where a hospital spokeswoman listed her in critical condition yesterday afternoon.

The crash remains under investigation.

"The roads were wet, and she was already in the ambulance when officers arrived on scene," said DiGianvittorio, who said speed is also an apparent factor in the crash.

But those details were not on the players' minds in their close game against the Tigers that ended 19-16.

The girls had the number 14 and "Kate" written on their arms, cheeks and legs, and they decorated rear car windows facing the field with Evans' number and her initials.

"She was with us all the way," said team captain Kelly Gibson, an 18-year-old senior. "Every thing we did was for her."

The players yelled her name during the game and also in a cheer following their victory against Ipswich.

Margeaux Guercia, 16, a junior, said she is Evans' "best friend in the world" and credited her teammates for being so supportive of her and Evans since last weekend.

"She's our greatest motivation," said Margeaux, who immediately left after the game to head down to Boston to see her friend.

The team also released a letter wishing Evans a speedy recovery.

"We all have no doubt that her incredible strength and determination will help her pull through in no time," the letter said. "Every single one of us is counting down the days until she steps on the field with us again."

Evans' parents, who have been at her daughter's bedside since the crash, released a statement thanking Evans' friends and the community.

"All we can do is say thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who has called or visited or written with an offer to help in any way possible, and to everyone who has prayed and continues to pray for Kate," said Evans' parents, Andrew and Karen, in an e-mail.

The parents thanked their daughter's friends and fellow students who organized and turned out for a prayer service at Masconomet Regional High on Saturday evening. They thanked teachers and administrators and lacrosse players, parents and coaches for heading into the hospital to visit their daughter.

The family also thanked a resident of Peabody Street who was the first to reach Evans, and who comforted her until paramedics arrived, along with firefighters, doctors and the MedFlight crew.

"Kate has a long road ahead of her," Evans' parents wrote, "but her recovery will be made easier thanks to the support of her friends and teammates she loves so much."