ALBANY — Lately, the winter season in the Northeast has done a really good job with delaying spring. Besides tainting people’s moods, it also makes it difficult for spring sports teams to get into gear as grass fields take time to become playable.

Parking lots and gymnasiums are lame substitutes for an outdoor field. That’s why the Guilderland girls’ lacrosse team does all that it can to raise money for time on a turf field.

Renting time on turf isn’t cheap — $100 to $200 an hour — but Dutch Head Coach Carrie Britt says it’s much better than cramming 24 players into a gym. Last year, Guilderland’s turf bill was close to $3,000.

Guilderland scheduled eight sessions on turf this season, including Tuesday’s scrimmage against Queensbury on John Fallon Field at the University of Albany. The Dutch went back to John Fallon Field on Wednesday for practice.

Guilderland’s school budget doesn’t have room for turf-field rentals; the booster club for girls’ lacrosse pays for all of it. “For example, I think we served like 300 pancake breakfasts last week,” Britt said after Tuesday’s scrimmage. “But it’s not just for now; we think ahead. The booster club works really hard.”

Playing and practicing on a turf field allows Guilderland to properly prepare for the competitive Class A lacrosse season ahead. The Dutch have made the last nine sectional finals, and won five championships in that span.

“You need the turf,” Britt said. “Turf is important. We do a ton of fundraising to earn it. Every team tries to get out on the turf. It just depends on how motivated everyone is, and how well your booster club does.”

^{_{Bundled up: Despite the cold conditions, the Guilderland girls’ lacrosse team scrimmaged Queensbury on Tuesday at the University of Albany. Here, Dutch Head Coach Carrie Britt calls out to her players from the sidelines. The Enterprise — Jordan J. Michael}}

“Turf” is important to Guilderland lacrosse in its other meaning, too — as home territory.

The Dutch lacrosse players have an allegiance to the University of Albany that goes beyond playing on its artificial grass.

Over the years, more than a few Guilderland graduates have gone on to play for the Danes. Currently, Jenna Walsh and Shannon Mackesey play for Albany.

John Battaglino, Albany’s head coach, used to coach Bethlehem; Britt coached against him when she coached at Shaker. Marylou Vosburgh, Guilderland’s current junior-varsity coach, used to coach the Danes. Vosburgh was Albany’s coach when the team made its move to Division 1.

Britt said that Battaglino has always taken advantage of local lacrosse talent. “You see a tremendous amount of local players going to Albany for that reason,” she said. “Think about it — your parents can see you without boarding a plane, and the tuition is reasonable because it’s in state. As far as local support for lacrosse, UAlbany absolutely is it.”

As an intense coach, Battaglino would be the Herb Brooks of the lacrosse world, if there ever was one, said Britt, referencing the legendary hockey coach.

“He gets a lot of talent out of the kids,” Britt said of Battaglino. “They see playing for him as a real worthy challenge. The local kids really respect him.”

Guilderland pays for the turf, and gets some loyalty in return. 

^{_{Two on one: A Queensbury player, right, changes her direction while being defended by two Guilderland players during a scrimmage on Tuesday at John Fallon Field. The turf field belongs to the University of Albany, but is rented out to area high school lacrosse teams that are willing to pay for it. The Enterprise — Jordan J. Michael}}