Sometimes, good is just not good enough.

That was the attitude Peyton Romig carried into the summer of 2018, just a few weeks after finishing a successful first season with the Indianapolis women’s lacrosse team. Romig started all 20 games as a freshman for UIndy that year, helping the third-year program reach new milestones with 16 wins and its first NCAA tournament berth. Used primarily as a draw specialist and defensive midfielder, she set a new school record with 152 draw controls.

But Romig saw room for improvement.

“I wanted to be an all-over-the-field player and be able to help my team at both ends,” Romig said. “I knew I had to do some more work on my game.”

That summer, back home in Carthage, New York, Romig committed to getting in better shape to allow her body to withstand the demands of going up and down the field. Conditioning drills, wall ball and individual shooting practice became daily staples.

“It’s not a lot of fun at the time, but the end result is worth it,” Romig said. “I was motivated because I knew I had to become better.”

Romig also played in a college summer league in Syracuse, about 80 miles south on Interstate 81. She traveled weekly with high school friend Braelie Kempney, who was preparing at the time for her first season at Syracuse.

“There were a lot of talented players in that league, from Division I to Division III,” Romig said. “I learned a lot.”

Back at UIndy in 2019, Romig maintained her status as one of the nation’s top draw specialists, finishing second in the country with 11.45 draw controls per game. And her ability to help on defense continued to shine. But the hard work of the previous summer was fully evidenced by Romig’s newfound impact on offense. After scoring just twice as a freshman, Romig tallied 32 goals as a sophomore with four hat tricks and at least two goals in 10 games.

“I surprised everyone,” she said, “including myself.”

The do-it-all player had arrived.

“She just grinded to get better and to get to the top,” said UIndy coach James Delaney. “She has a great mindset and attitude, and incredible focus.”

Romig’s ascension continued in 2020 with a breakout performance in UIndy’s season-opening win over No. 8 Florida Southern. She tallied a career-high four goals, including the unassisted game-winner in overtime. She also added 14 draw controls.

With Romig playing a pivotal role, the Greyhounds jumped out to a 7-1 record that season, their only loss coming against top-ranked Le Moyne just days before the season came to a sudden halt due to the pandemic.

When college lacrosse resumed in 2021, Romig picked up where she left off. Despite playing in an attack-oriented offense, she finished with 29 goals and a new career high of 25 assists. She also led all of Division II with 200 draw controls en route to IWLCA Division II Player of the Year honors.

“Peyton is an incredible talent and our most impactful player,” Delaney said. “Her ability to control the game all over the field is massive. She’s just such a huge piece of what we do on the field.”

There's no ceiling on what Romig, the USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Player of the Year, can accomplish in 2022, a season she hopes will end with her team celebrating another milestone — its first NCAA title.

“She’s a heart-and-soul kid,” Delaney said. “She will run through a brick wall if she has to.”