Hometown: Richmond, VA
Current Residence: Washington, DC
High School: Collegiate School ‘05
College: Virginia ‘09
Position: Goalie
Career Highlights: 3 time ACC Champion, played in 2007 National Championship game, Recipient of the Yates Award, 2005 Academic All American
What was your most memorable experience playing college lacrosse?
My most memorable experience playing at UVA would have to be our 2007 NCAA Semifinal game against Duke. With 20 minutes left in the game, Duke was winning 13-4 but within the course of about a minute we scored 3 quick goals to keep us in the game. With that momentum, we continued to shut Duke down. We tied the game up and then scored the winning goal with nine seconds to play. I will never forget that game because not only did it send us to the NCAA Finals, but it was also the most exciting 20 minutes of lacrosse that I have ever seen.
When did you know you wanted to play college lacrosse?
I guess sometime between my sophomore and junior year. I had always loved lacrosse more than the other sports I played but since none of my older teammates had played in college I didn’t know much about the recruiting process. When one of my coaches told me that I should really consider playing at the next level and that she would help me with my letters, my mind was set!
What advice do you have for high school lacrosse players interested in playing in college?
If you want to play lacrosse in college, you can! You may not play at a Top-10 school but there is definitely a spot for you somewhere. Stay on top of the recruiting process- write letters to coaches, keep a stick in your hand, and try to find a way for coaches to see you play.
Whatever you do, do NOT think that coaches will find you! College coaches do not have the time or money to look at every girl in the country. You have to be proactive to let them know who you are and that you want to play for their team!
What do you wish you had known then about the recruiting process that you now know?
I wish I had known how to market myself better. The recruiting process is a lot like finding a job. You have to give them your resume, reach out to them, and tell them that you want to play for their team. If I had known this when I was in high school, I think I would have created more options for myself. Fortunately, I ended up exactly where I wanted to be!
What do you like about being an Athletic Advisor?
I love being involved with the high school lacrosse scene again. Playing on a club team and going to tournaments was always so much fun. It is great to work with athletes that are going through that stage of their career. In addition, being an Athletic Advisor is a great way for me to stay involved with lacrosse now that college is over.
What’s your ETA coaching style?
I understand that it is hard for high school athletes, especially juniors, to find time to do extra activities on top of their academics and sports. As a result of this, I want to be as helpful and accessible as possible. After setting goals and drawing up an athlete-specific timeline, I talk to my student-athletes almost every week to make sure they are staying on top of their recruiting process. If possible, I try to meet with them in person at least once a month. The ultimate goal of this coaching style is to support the student-athlete as needed so they can define their goals and find their perfect fit.
You can email Sara your recruiting questions at sara@empowertheathlete.com
