Hannah Seifried was having the lacrosse season of her life last spring. 

Seifried had a six-goal game against Lock Haven University, and four hat tricks. She also led the team with 24 draw controls and 19 goals, putting her on track to break the school record for single season goals.

Then the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic hit and cancelled the season.

“I was crushed. I cried, I felt terrible for the seniors,” Seifried said. “We worked hard to have that good season. Selfishly I was upset because I felt that I could do a lot that year.”

For Seifried, her journey to have a season like that started long before she came to college. The junior accounting major began playing lacrosse in elementary school. However, she said she never developed a passion for it until high school.

“I’m one of six kids, and lacrosse was the only sport no one else played,” Seifried said. “I wanted to be the odd one out.”

Seifried, a Springview, Pennsylvania, native attended Sacred Heart Academy in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. After deciding to pursue college lacrosse during her freshman year of high school, Seifried started working to ensure she reached her goals.

“We were a small school that wasn’t too competitive,” Seifried said. “So, I did a club team every summer to get recruited and constantly worked out.”

However, when Seifried arrived at college, she said that she had to adjust to collegiate lacrosse. 

“I definitely wasn’t ready for the speed of the game, it was a lot faster than high school,” Seifried said.

After her freshman season, Seifried was not happy with her game performances. She felt that she did not perform to her best ability, as she battled a shin injury. Seifried said she felt some pressure to do better her sophomore year, and her coaches helped her with that.

“I had to get out of my own head because I’m very hard on myself,” Seifried said. “My coaches helped me practice positive self-talk, and all summer I practiced shooting drills. I was really hopeful for the team during my sophomore season, so I made sure I was doing extra work.”

The work paid off. Seifried’s sophomore season easily her topped her freshman campaign. During her sophomore season, Seifried’s teammate, junior Alana Cardaci, was second on the team for goals scored with 14. Seifried said that Cardaci’s success helped her perform better. 

“There was a lot of friendly competition between Alana and I,” Seifried said. “We messed with each other and pushed each other to be better.”

Just when Seifried and her team started feeling good about their season, the pandemic ended it early. Although that season was cut short, Seifried is optimistic about next season.

“I think there will be some added pressure because we were doing so well,” Seifried said. “All the girls are very supportive of each other, and they’re the ones that make me want to do better.”

The women’s lacrosse team, like other teams, is limited on how they can practice and gather in groups. Seifried said that despite the restrictions, she has been working out and practicing on her own.

“On my own, I do what workouts I can because we’re limited to what we can do as a team,” Seifried said. “I’m a visual learner, so I watch old film every day and pick something new to work on.”

Although the fate of the upcoming lacrosse season remains unknown, Seifried has an idea of where her own future is headed. As an accounting major, she said she will probably become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and she is sure that she wants to continue playing lacrosse. 

“I don’t think I’ll do anything professionally with lacrosse, but I don’t want to stop playing,” Seifried said. “There are some leagues around my home that keep going, so I’ll probably play there.”

Share