Savannah Marley, 9, left, Sierra Street, 8, center, and Cassie Cartusciello, 8, wait for their turn during drills at lacrosse practice Monday at Cary High School. The girls play on a second- through fourth-grade team with Apex Sports Authority.

“My dad turned me on to lacrosse ’cause I said, ‘What sport should I play?’ and he was like, ‘How about lacrosse?’ and I said, ‘Sure. What is it?’” says Cassie, who has been playing the sport for three years. Cassie says she likes the sport “because you never stop in lacrosse unless there is a foul.”

Savannah, who started playing on the team this year, says she was “kind of nervous” about playing in games at first. She likes the sport because, she says, “I’m competitive and it lets me get my competition out of me.” Sierra, also a first-year player, enjoys “running and stretching.”

When asked if lacrosse is a boys’ sport, Savannah says, “Well, people do think that only boys play lacrosse, but I know that women’s rights were passed a long time ago and I’m like ‘Well, I’m on a league,’ and they’re like, ‘Whoa.’ ”