By Charles Kruzits
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/18/11
Conestoga junior attack Britta Hjelm has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Yale University.
Hjelm was a First Team Central League pick last year when she scored 66 goals and helped the Pioneers reach the District 1 quarterfinals. During the summer Hjelm plays club lacrosse for the Phantastix.
A distinguished honors student, Hjelm also considered Brown, Princeton, Lehigh, and Dartmouth.
“I’ve always wanted to go to an Ivy League school,” Hjelm said. “I’ll be getting a worldclass education while playing for a great team.”
Last summer Hjelm participated in a camp held by the Yale program.
“I loved the coaches,” she said. “I got to play with girls who are now freshman and we all played really well together.”
A strong pull to Yale was third year head coach Anne Phillips. Phillips, a native of West Chester, led Franklin & Marshall to a Division III NCAA Championship in 2007.
“She led F & M to a championship and she’s bringing in a lot of talented girls,” Hjelm said. “She’s definitely going to build up the program.”
Hjelm is one of five Pioneers to commit to a Division I program. Others are: senior midfielder Allison Henry (William & Mary), senior midfielder Taylor King (Monmouth), senior midfielder Brooke McGillis (New Hampshire) and junior defender Emily Pillion (James Madison). Also, Taylor Lawlor has committed to Division III Gettysburg.
The Pioneers have high expectations for the 2011 season and expect to contend for Central League, District 1 and state honors.
“If we keep working hard we have a lot of potential,” Hjelm said. “There is really no favorite this year so it’s all up for grabs.”
Britta would like to acknowledge her high school head coach Amy Orcutt and the Phantastix coaches for everything they have done for her.
