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Lady Knights Making News Locally and Nationally
ESPN Recruiting Article Features Foothill Sr. Courtney Valdez
Foothill Knights Girls Lacrosse Sr. Courtney Valdez
According to a US Lacrosse report there are 105,914 girls playing high school lacrosse and of those, 13,105 will go on to play in college.
With that growth has come an increased competition in college recruiting.
While there are guidelines and processes surrounding recruiting, college athletes will reveal that there are surprises along the way. These lacrosse recruits share the surprises they faced so you can anticipate them.
Question: What surprised you about the recruiting process?
Courtney Valdez, 2012, Foothill (Santa Ana, Calif.), Oregon
"What surprised me about the recruiting process is how much work you have to put in to finding the school that's right for you both on the field and in the classroom. I was also surprised how much my list of schools changed throughout the recruiting process. As you go through the process you learn more about yourself and what fits you best."
Bridget Bianco, 2011, Moorestown (Moorestown, N.J.), Northwestern
"The strictness of the communications - don't send things here or these dates you can't do this or when you visit, all that type of stuff - you didn't want to make a mistake."
Carolyn Kraus, Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.), Winthrop
"The speed at which the recruiting process proceeds. It starts early and begins with a flurry of activity. You have to understand the process quickly and visit schools and coaches. It was also surprising that you have to begin to get your name out early as well."
Molly Morris, 2012, Bullis (Potomac, Md.), Mount St. Mary's
"The most surprising part was probably how differently each coach approached the recruiting proces. Additionally, it amazed me how coaches jumped around to different programs. It also amused me how parents and players would not discuss where they were looking."
Aislinn Probst, 2012, Broadneck (Annapolis, Md.), Navy
"What really surprised me was how early it started, and how much it made me think about what I want to do with my future. I had to do a lot of serious research and thought before I made my choice."
Alex Revel, 2012, Oakton (Vienna, Va.), James Madison
"I was shocked at how stressful the process was. Emotionally, it's a roller coaster ride and one minute your getting several coaches, and then you could go for a period of time and not hear from anyone."
Ellen Shaffrey, 2011, Western Albemarle (Charlottesville, Va.), William & Mary
"I guess the fact that so many people start so early and you really do have to start early if you want to get noticed and really have a chance to play - especially now since it's getting earlier and earlier. So I would just say that if you realize you want to play get into it as early as you can."
For more: http://espn.go.com/high-school/lacrosse/story/_/id/6951019/recruiting-surprises
Girls Lacrosse: Foothill is the reigning champ
Visit WebsiteThursday, March 13, 2008
The Knights are willing to settle for nothing less than another CIF title.
By JOSH DIGGS
Contributing Writer (OCRegister.com)
For fans of lacrosse in Orange County, the name Foothill has become synonymous with the sport. Last season, the boys and girls teams each won the CIF Orange County Championships and both are expected to contend for a follow-up title this season.
The girl's team returns all but one player from last year and is one of the deepest and most talented teams in the county. Expectations for the team are very high but the players and coaches agree that anything less than another title will not suffice.
Don't expect the team to rest on last year's success. The talent on the team as well as a depth pool that extends well into the junior varsity ranks is making sure each player continues to push for playing time.
"We are super deep and even our jayvee is awesome," Natalie Cummins said. "Many of them could start on most varsity teams at other schools."
The Knights have developed a powerhouse program with a solid foundation and should continue to land top players in the future. And with strong coaching, those players have developed a winning, one-track mind.
"Our goal is to win another title and go undefeated," Cummins said.
The team has developed a reputation for strong defense but it is just as well known for its well-balanced offense. Cummins, Natalie Cross, Kaylee Navarette and Jacqueline Paquette have been the early offensive leaders but any of the seven attacking players is more than capable of scoring.
Navarette and Cross have attacker mindsets and are crucial for setting up the offense. Navarette has good stick skills and Cross helps direct traffic, substitutions and set picks to score goals or assists.
Cummins, the senior center, is the team's anchor and has been vocal about her willingness to pass the ball around to find the open shooter for scoring opportunities.
When opposing teams try to shut down the Knights' hot player with double teams or other defensive schemes Cummins said she's confident someone else will step up.
"Anyone of our attackers is willing and able to be the star and score when we need them too," Cummins said.
A big reason for Foothill's success is what Cummins' calls its 'brick wall' defense. The team prides itself on stopping its opponents and causing turnovers. Much of the defense is predicated on speed.
Allison Languis is one of the team's fastest players and her uses quick feet and agility to focus on being a defensive stopper. Goalkeeper Jeni Centner has been rock solid in front of the net and is a favorite for county player of the year honors.
The Sea View League is shaping up to be the county's premier league.
While lacrosse is quickly catching on for the rest of the county, several teams aside from Foothill have already made a name for themselves, including El Toro and Huntington Beach.
The Knights, however, are still the favorite to win.
Their combination of standout players, experience and coaching may be too much to overcome for any team in the county.
OUTLOOK
DEFENSE
OFFENSE
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GIRLS LACROSSE: Foothill is the reigning champs
