By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/6/11
Garnet Valley junior attack/midfielder Halley Barnes has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Rutgers University.
Barnes was an Honorable Mention Central League pick in 2010 when she helped the Jaguars finish 11-8 and advance to the District 1 tournament. Barnes plays club lacrosse for Brandwyine Majors.
Barnes, who also considered Ohio States and James Madison, plans to major in Communications and perhaps go into Public Relations.
“The biggest reasons for choosing Rutgers was the school and which one would prepare me for the future,” she said. “I love the location. It’s close to New York City and Philadelphia and the internships I could get will help me when I graduate. I think I’d get the best experience and the best job opportunities.”
Barnes will play for Scarlet Knights head coach Laura Brand-Sias, a Radnor alum who also played at Rutgers.
“As soon as I met the girls and coaches I immediately clicked,” Barnes said. “It was so easy to talk to them and they were really funny.”
Barnes, who takes all AP and Honors classes, is the second Garnet Valley junior to commit to a Division I college. Earlier, fellow Brandywine Majors teammate Ally Heavens (midfielder) committed to Penn State.
Barnes said the Jaguars are on the rise as they enter their second season under coach Kate Henwood, a former Villanova assistant coach.
“Coming off last season, we had a really young team and we have a bunch of juniors ready to make a huge impact,” said Barnes, who also plays basketball and previously played field hockey at Garnet Valley. “Our main goal is to win the Central League, go far in districts and go on to states.
“Coach Henwood came in from coaching at the college level and just taught us so much that I think we are ready to explode.”
