By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 8/4/09

Episcopal Academy rising senior midfielder Avery Curley has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Penn State.

Curley earned second-team All-Phillylacrosse.com, Honorable Mention All-American and first-team All-Inter-Ac League honors this year for the Churchwomen, helping EA win its fifth straight Inter-Ac championship,

She plans to study some combination of public relations, marketing and advertising.

“Penn State is such a great school,” she said. “All my friends have been to camps there and the coaches are awesome. All the girls on the team had the best personalities; they were funny, nice and outgoing. Every single one of them was perfect for me.”

In May Curley was a member of the Philly 1 team that claimed the Schoolgirls’ title at the US Lacrosse National Tournament. For EA in 2009, Curley collected 52 goals, 22 assists, 122 groundballs, 42 draw controls, and 13 interceptions. She is also a standout field hockey player

At Penn State, Curley will see many familiar faces from Philadelphia. Already, three other rising seniors, Unionville goalie Melissa Lloyd and midfielder Lizzy Carney and Hatboro-Horsham attack Lauren Purvis have committed to Penn State.

Last year Penn State finished 9-8 and reached the American Lacrosse Conference championship game after defeating 14^th-ranked Ohio State, 11-7 in the semifinals. Unfortunately, the Nittany Lions had to tackle five-time National champion Northwestern and fell, 13-3, in the conference title game.

“We all share the same desire,” said Curley. “It’s a program on the rise; their goal is to get to the National championship. It’s just great to get to a program that is moving forward; and hopefully I’ll make an impact.”

Curley also is looking forward to EA’s 2010 season. Although the team loses a number of key seniors, there are plenty of talented returnees.

“It will be hard losing eight great players and it will be hard to fill those holes,” she said. “Not only on the field, but on the sideline, with the personality and the girls themselves.

“But I’m sure we’ll have a strong team. It really depends on how we work in the off-season.”

Tags: Episcopal Academy