By Charles Kruzits
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/13/11
Phoenixville senior goalie Karen Hayde has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Old Dominion University.
Hayde was named to the 2010 All PAC-10 Honorable Mention team after registering a .580 save percentage her junior season. During the summer Hayde plays for team Aftershock.
Hayde, the captain of both the lacrosse team and soccer team has her intentions set on majoring in either Chemistry or Biology. Hayde, a National Honor Society member, is also the President of the Varsity Club, which is a group dedicated to serve their community by volunteering their time and effort.
A strong draw to Old Dominion for Hayde was the location. The Monarchs are coached by former Chester County native and long-time Temple assistant Sue Stahl, the former US National coach and a US Lacrosse Hall of Famer.
“I love Virginia, I loved the campus,” Hayde said. “Being in Norfolk, it’s kind of the city but doesn’t have that big-city feel and I like that a lot.
“It was a combination between athletics, the coaching staff, and the team chemistry. It also helps that academically it is a good school.”
Hayde will add to the surplus of Philly players on the Monarchs which includes: freshman midfielder Emily Austerberry (Boyertown), junior midfielder Lisa Bernardini (George School), freshman attack Theresa Brady (Conestoga), sophomore midfielder Carolyn Burns (Archbishop Carroll), sophomore defense Alexandra Burns (Archbishop Carroll), junior goalkeeper Sarah Geary (Springfield-Delco), and sophomore midfielder Kirkland Lewis (North Penn).
Phoenixville went 6-10 last year and lost some starters due to graduation. However, Hayde envisions a turnaround this year.
“I am really excited, we have a really young team but we all have experience and that helps,” Hayde said. ““We lost a lot of seniors including two starters on defense, but we are all working together to get the chemistry where we need it to be.”
