1. How was your experience at the Team USA Fall Classic?

It was such an honor and humbling experience to be able to compete against the U.S. women’s national team in a scrimmage. It was surreal to be on the field with players that I have looked up to and idolized my whole life. Also, being able to play against the Navy women’s lacrosse team was a great opportunity to see how it will be to play at the next level. I left that weekend with so much more knowledge and appreciation for the game. 

2. How did you feel when you won the state championship with your high school team?

I will never forget the day. It was Saturday, June 6, 2015, at SUNY Cortland. My ESM high school girls’ lacrosse team won the New York state championship for the very first time! I was only an eighth-grader and couldn’t be prouder to be part of such an amazing team. Our motto that year was “one heartbeat,” and that is how all 23 of us played — as one. I just remember as the final seconds of the game were winding down, we all started to cry tears of joy. It was one of the happiest days of my life.

3. What was the biggest lesson you learned when you tore your ACL?

When I tore my ACL my freshman year, I wasn’t frightened of the surgery or the hard work ahead of me. What frightened me the most was the idea of never being able to play the game of lacrosse again. The thought was unbearable. I knew I had a long road ahead of me, but I was up for the challenge. I had so many lacrosse goals that I wanted to achieve, one being the opportunity to try out for Team USA, and I think that is what motivated me the most. 

4. You also play field hockey. What skills translate to lacrosse?

The difference between lacrosse and field hockey is not being able to control the ball as easily in field hockey, which has helped improved my off-ball play. Your feet need to be constantly moving and you need to be able to break them down, which translates to my offensive and defensive game in lacrosse.