Ean Goldstein ’23
Staff Writer
Year #2 of Lake Forest College varsity lacrosse is well under way, and both the men’s and women’s squads have been playing well as of late. As of April 17, men’s lacrosse is undefeated in conference play, and the women’s team have won 4 out of their last 5 MWLC matchups. Women’s lacrosse is led by junior captain Ali Graham. Graham has scored at least a hat trick in 4 consecutive games, most recently scoring a career-high 6 goals against Cornell, earning her MWLC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Graham has also made her presence known on defense, tallying 36 caused turnovers, 2nd in the MWLC. Stentor Staff talked to Graham about the success of her and the team.
Where are you from?
I am originally from North Andover, MA.
What’s your major?
Communication major
How long have you been playing lacrosse?
I have been playing lacrosse since I was 7 years old, so for about 14 years.
What was it like to join the lacrosse team at Lake Forest in its first year?
Joining the new program was very exciting. Like some others on the team, I was not recruited to play and instead was able to simply walk on to the team. Lacrosse has always been my favorite sport and I felt very lucky to continue my athletic career in an unexpected way. It was so cool to be part of something historical and help establish a new standard for women’s lacrosse in the Midwest. There was definitely some pressure to do well and make a name for ourselves despite having such a small team, but that added incentive to ultimately win conference. We were also extremely lucky to begin the program with an exceptional coaching staff who truly were unlike any other coaches I’ve had before.
What is your favorite part about being on the lacrosse team?
My favorite part of being a part of this team is the people. I think we have a unique team in the sense that we are all committed to being successful trailblazers for future members and we all care for and respect each other on a truly deep level. I have met some of my best friends on this team and I know I can rely on each and every person. Good chemistry off the field directly leads to success on the field.
You’ve had a hat trick in 4 consecutive games. What has been the key to your success as of late?
I have to attribute most of my goals to my teammates—they have been patient with their feeds and deliberate with their off-ball movement, allowing me to successfully make that drive. I’ve also been practicing taking the quick shot instead of holding on too long, waiting for the non-existent ‘perfect’ angle. I am a very competitive person and when I get angry or emotional on the field, I tend to run faster and get hungrier for that goal/win.
You are also 2nd in the MWLC in caused turnovers. What have you been doing to be such a disruption on defense?
I was originally trained as a defender and didn’t start playing midfield/attack until later in my high school career. I think that determination to stop the other team from getting any type of goal-scoring opportunity is what drives me to slow them down, then patience and timing is key to getting the right stick check. Our team has been putting in a lot of work on our ride (re-defending after losing it in our offensive zone) which is evident in many of our recent games. The collective effort to slow down the ball in transition provides more opportunities to look for that caused turnover.
How important was it to beat Hamline after last season’s MWLC championship loss against them?
Our loss to Hamline last year was devastating, especially after coming off such a long win-streak and a previous win over the team. I think we all felt that we still had something to prove and desperately wanted redemption. This season’s win boosted our confidence and reminded everyone of the team that we can be.
What is the biggest thing you and your team need to work on in the home stretch of the season to try and earn an NCAA Tournament bid?
Moving forward, I think our individual and collective mindset will be the key to our success. We have proved time and again that we possess the skill to get a bid, so our positivity, grit, determination, and ability to lift each other up will be most important. We will surely see some great competition, so the outcome will come down to which team wants it more and can most effectively work together.
