09-26-2014, 10:23 AM
Yeah I know there probably aren't a lot of huge girls lacrosse fans on the board, but it's kinda cool to hear about high school recruits falling in love with UC. Sounds like we may have a pretty good coach in the job too...
Quote:Chartiers Valley girls lacrosse star picks Cincinnati
By Bt Nathan Smith
Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014, 9:00 p.m.
Only a junior, Chartiers Valley lacrosse player Maria Stamerra had two years to decide where she wanted to continue her athletic and academic career.
But after visiting the campus of Cincinnati, Stamerra couldn't wait.
“I didn't think the whole thing about ‘seeing the school and you will know' was real,” Stamerra said. “I started talking to them at the end of my sophomore year and went for a visit. As soon as I saw the school, I got that feeling. I fell in love with the school and the staff.”
Stamerra had previously looked at Duquesne, Stanford and Brown.
Stamerra said one of the main drawing factors of the Bearcats was coach Gina Oliver, previously an assistant at Duquesne and Ohio State, who played for the U.S. Women's National Team.
“I went to a camp at (Cinncinati) over the summer and that is when I was offered,” Stamerra said. “Just having her stand behind me during drills at the camp, there was a connection. I knew I wanted to play for her for four years.”
As a sophomore, Stamerra received All-WPIAL and all-section honors from the Pittsburgh Lacrosse Foundation. She was an all-section selection as a freshman.
Stamerra got her start in the sport watching her older sister Haley, who is now a freshman with the Indiana University of Pennsylvania lacrosse team.
“My sister was playing on a team coached by my dad when I was too young to play and I was always around,” Stamerra said. “Just like any kid, I wanted to do what my older system was doing.”
In addition to playing in the spring for Chartiers Valley, Stamerra plays for Pittsburgh Premier Lacrosse Club.
The early decision will now allow Stamerra to focus on helping Chartiers Valley claim a WPIAL title. After finishing as the Division 2 runner ups for the last four seasons, the Colts are jumping into Division 1 this fall and will face the likes of Mt. Lebanon, Peters Township, Shady Side Academy and Upper St. Clair.
“Our goal is to win a title,” Stamerra said. “I think losing the last couple of years has made us hungrier. Last year we were too confident going into the title game. We now know exactly what we need to do in the new division.”
Nathan Smith is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at nsmith@tribweb.com or via Twitter @NSmith_Trib.