What a comeback season! If my freshman year taught me anything, it was that things don’t always go according to plan. After suffering a season-ending knee injury just three games into my college lacrosse career, I spent months recovering, rehabilitating, and working toward one goal: getting back on the field and playing the sport I love. Going into my sophomore season, I had something to prove, not just to my coaches and teammates, but to myself!
All the hard work paid off! I returned to Reinhardt’s starting lineup and picked up right where I left off. Of course, coming back from a serious knee injury wasn’t just about being physically ready. I had to rebuild my confidence, trust my knee, and get comfortable playing aggressively again. There were challenges along the way, but every practice and every game reminded me why I had worked so hard to come back.
As the season progressed, I found my rhythm and began making a significant impact on our offense. From scoring goals to creating opportunities for my teammates, I was determined to make every minute on the field count. We had some incredible games, including dramatic double-overtime victories against Life University and the University of the Cumberlands, along with several dominant conference wins.
One of my favorite moments came against Tennessee Wesleyan, when our team earned a commanding 23-3 conference victory. It was exciting to see our offense come together and to contribute to another big AAC win. We continued building momentum throughout the conference season, eventually advancing to the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament Championship against the University of the Cumberlands.
That championship game was another battle! I scored three goals to help keep us in contention, but unfortunately, we fell just short in overtime, losing 11-10. It wasn’t the ending we wanted, but I couldn’t have been prouder of the effort our team put into getting there.
By the end of the season, I had accomplished something I could only have dreamed about while recovering from my injury. I finished as Reinhardt’s leading goal scorer and overall points leader! Going from watching games on the sidelines during my freshman year to leading our offense as a sophomore made all those months of rehabilitation and hard work worth it.
Then came one more incredible surprise. I was named to the 2025 NAIA Women’s Lacrosse All-America Second Team! Being recognized among the top collegiate lacrosse players in the country was an unbelievable honor, especially considering where I had been just one year earlier.
Looking back, my sophomore season was about so much more than goals, assists, wins, or individual recognition. It was about overcoming adversity, believing in myself, trusting the process, and refusing to let an injury determine my future. I learned that sometimes the biggest victories happen long before the scoreboard comes into play.
From a season-ending injury as a freshman to an NAIA All-American as a sophomore. What a difference a year makes!
And the best part? I’m not done yet! Go Eagles!
