By Natasha Wetten
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/23/11
Archbishop Spalding (Md.) junior midfielder Kendall Garden has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Lehigh University.
Garden was named to the National Schoolgirls DC Metro first team squad last year and also led the Integrity club team in scoring.
Academically, she has achieved above a 3.9 GPA and Principal’s Honor Roll since her freshman year. She also was inducted into the National Honors Society. At Lehigh she plan to peruse a Pre-med track.
“I fell in love with the school from the first moment I stepped foot on campus,” she said. “The Lehigh community seems like a close knit family. Another reason why I chose Lehigh was for its academic standards.
“While undergoing the college recruiting process one thing I knew for sure was the college I wanted to attend was academically challenging. I knew Lehigh was the right academic fit for me.”
Garden will play for Lehigh coach Jill Redfern, an Ursinus alum who guided the Mountain Hawks to a 14-4 mark last year.
“Once I met coach Redfern and coach Putnam, that sealed the deal,” she said. “I know that they are concerned with not only my athletic well-being but also my academic well-being.
“The players on the team seem to be really outgoing and fun. They all were serious about lacrosse and serious about academics, which was the perfect balance I was looking for.”
Garden has always wanted to pursue medicine.
“Ever since I was a young girl I knew I have wanted to become a doctor,” she said. “I know my Lehigh experience will prepare me for medical school.”
Archbishop Spalding competes in the IAAM “A” Conference.
“Our program is in a transition and rebuilding phase this year,” Garden said. “We have a new coaching staff and we hope to improve our record this year.”
