By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/29/09
Garnet Valley senior defender Lauren Henwood has signed a letter of intent to play next 
year at Iona College.
Henwood, an Honorable Mention All-Central League pick last year, said she learned about Iona while doing a college search and then had to go through the recruiting process again when the school switched coaches.
“When I first started doing my college search I had never heard of it,” said Henwood. “I started e-mailing the coach (Lauren Rywak) and did my official visit and was almost ready to sign when she left for George Mason.
“I started all over again with the new coach (Michelle Mason). She recruited me in the fall. I had made my official visit, so I knew I wanted to go there.”
Henwood, an Honors student who also is Vice President of the Senior Class, plans to become a speech pathologist.
“I loved the campus (located in New Rochelle, N.Y.) and the academic programs and they have a great program in Speech Pathology,” she said. “I wanted to go to a smaller school and I knew I wanted to leave this area. It’s a good fit.
“My Aunt is a speech and language pathologist,” she added. “I always knew I wanted to work with the disabled or the impaired. I really love working with people and kids.”
Henwood, for now, is focused on the Jaguars’ season, which has begun successfully. Garnet Valley, which struggled through a 4-14 year in 2008, is 4-0 and opened their Central League campaign with a 13-5 triumph over Lower Merion Friday. The Jags face a big test today when they host Bayard Rustin.
“We have a lot of young talent,” she said. “We have five freshmen up on the varsity and our goalie is a freshman. We’re really looking to keep up with the league. This is our second year in the Central League and it is kind of new to us.
“We’re looking to have a winning season.”
