By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/19/10
Pennridge senior attack Jess Roy has committed to play at five-time defending NCAA Division I champion Northwestern University.
Roy scored 53 goals last year and was a Second Team Suburban One Continental 
Conference pick when she helped the R
ams finish 13-6 and reach the District 1 playoffs. She attended summer camps at Northwestern the past three years and caught the eye of Wildcats coach Kelly Amonte Hiller.
Roy will become the first Philly girl to go to Northwestern since Germantown Academy All-American and U-19 team standout Colleen Magarity was recruited to play in Evanston, Ill., three years ago. Magarity has been a steady contributor at defensive midfield during her two seasons at NU.
“I went out there for my first camp there after my freshman year and I have been going there ever since,” said Roy. “My dad did a bunch of research and he got me the camp for my birthday. It was so exciting to go on campus and learn from the best players in the country.”
Amonte Hiller, who has guided her team to a remarkable record of 105-3 in the past five years, said Roy has a tremendous work ethic and a “heart of gold” during a brief interview at the US Lacrosse National Convention Friday.
As a recruit, Roy is assured a spot on the team, but is not on scholarship. A member of the National Honor Society and the Distinguished Honor Roll, Roy is considering medicine as a major.
“Northwestern has always been one of my top choices,” Roy said. “I really wanted a good academic institution. That was the big thing for me when I went out there. When I visited, I loved the girls, I loved coach Amonte. It was a good fit.”
Roy said playing for a legend like Amonte Hiller – a four-time All-Americana and two-time Player of the Year while at Maryland in the mid-1990s – will be an honor.
“I’m extremely excited; I can’t wait to play for coach Amonte Hiller,” she said. “What she has done is amazing, the are awesome; they are my kind of people and I feel like I fit right in. Of course, I will be a little bit nervous.
“The way they play with all heart and athleticism and hustle is amazing.”
Roy is one of three Prnnridge seniors to sign or commit to Division I colleges. Emily Maher has signed with American and Jen Moyer has committed to Liberty University. Roy is optimistic that Pennridge can challenge for the Suburban One Continental Conference crown.
“Our senior class is really strong,” Roy said. “We have two others going to D1 and we have had a lot of underclassmen really step it up in the off season. We are hoping to go farther in the playoffs. I am pretty excited to get underway and get into the games.”
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