UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- As we reach the midway point of the 2021 lacrosse regular season, freshman midfielder Kristin O'Neill couldn't be happier to finally get back on the field. Growing up, O'Neill was an avid athlete and credits her competitiveness to her three brothers.
"I started playing lacrosse in the third grade because my older brothers were playing," said O'Neill. "I have to credit a lot of my success and competitiveness to them for teaching me early on."
O'Neill fell in love with lacrosse when she joined her club team at 10-years-old. It was through that team experience she was able to develop her skills as a player.
"When I started playing midfield for my club team. That is when I really fell in love with the sport," exclaimed O'Neill. "I love how lacrosse combines several skill sets and is such a team game."
O'Neill continued to play with her club team for several years. Her hard work and dedication paid off in her transition into high school. O'Neill was ranked as the ninth overall player by Inside Lacrosse and was selected an Under Armour Senior All-American.
"Playing for an amazing team in high school definitely elevated my success as a player," said O'Neill. "It made me a better athlete and more prepared for playing at a Division I school."
When looking for a university to continue her lacrosse career, O'Neill knew the moment she stepped onto the Penn State campus that is where she was meant to be.
"I always knew I wanted to attend a bigger school and the second I visited Penn State, it felt like home, said O'Neill. "I just had a great feeling right away about attending the university."
Although this year has been different due to the COVID-19 pandemic, O'Neill is still enjoying her time as a first-year student.
"I think COVID-19 took a lot away but it did make transitioning into the student-athlete lifestyle a little easier because it was an overall slower process," said O'Neill. "With the COVID-19 restrictions, we first started practicing with our class in small groups."
The unique situation has allowed O'Neill to create lasting friendships and learn from the examples of her teammates on the field.
"The team is super close and it's cool because we have a big mix of the classes in our starting lineup, it's not just all upperclassmen," said O'Neill. "I feel that this has caused our team to get so close, especially playing together on the field.
O'Neill noted how team captain Quinn Nicolai has taken her underwing and shown her how to be a successful midfielder.
"I try to work as hard as I can as a freshman," said O'Neill. "My main thing is to go 100 percent no matter what so I can better myself and teammates."
In addition to all the hard work the team has displayed on the field, O'Neill has high hopes for the 2021 lacrosse season.
"We are on a great track and everyone has been working together on and off the field," said O'Neill. "What makes our team-dynamic so special is how we celebrate each other's wins and work together. I know we are going to continue this and I am excited to see where it takes us."
