By Stacey Troiano
This year’s Lady Pride lacrosse squad boasts a host of experience and senior leadership, none more experienced and ready to get back at it than fifth-year senior and team captain Becky Thorn.
Thorn’s 2006 season was cut short after just three games when a nagging back injury sidelined the midfielder for the rest of the year. Thorn was off to a brilliant start tallying five goals and one assist and adding 13 draw controls, six ground balls and three caused turnovers before the season-ending injury.
Thorn received a medical red-shirt and was forced to watch her team battle all season and fall just short of a CAA championship. But a year of hard work and rehabilitation allowed Thorn to get back in game shape so that she would be ready for 2007.
“I went through a lot of different therapy and doctors, but a lot of it was mental for me,” Thorn said. “I coach and train during the summer, and not being able to play with my players was hard, but I just worked hard to prepare to come back.”
Head Coach Abby Morgan is just happy to see one of her superstars back on the field enjoying herself and leading the team.
“She was struggling for so long, not being able to run and not being able to play,” Morgan said. “It was just fantastic to see her do all the things she could do 11 months ago. It’s just really fun to watch her do all those things again.”
The question for opposing teams will be if they can handle a renewed Thorn this season. In her first game back, she torched Loyola with four goals and two assists, adding three ground balls, two draw controls and two caused turnovers.
Thorn, a native of Holbrook, N.Y., has been a starter in every season with the Pride. In her 2003 rookie season, she was selected to the All-CAA second team, and in 2005 she was a third team All-American selection. In her career, Thorn has already tallied 116 goals and is off to a hot start in her senior season.
“I had intensity and love of the game that helped me come back,” Thorn said. “I just pushed myself, and it was awesome to be back out on the field again.”