By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 9/24/13
Garnet Valley senior defender Nova Ward has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Mercer University.
Nova Ward log:
High school: Garnet Valley
Graduation year: 2014
Position: Defense
College choice: Mercer University
Club affiliation: Brandywine Majors 2014
Major lacrosse honors, camps and showcases: Starter on two-time PIAA State Champion (2011, 2012) and undefeated Central League Champion (2012) team; National Tournament team (2012, 2013)
What will you major in/study: Pre-Law
Why did you choose school: “After stepping on campus for the first time, I fell in love; there is a reason that its campus is ranked the fifth most beautiful in the nation. Mercer University allows me to pursue lacrosse at the Division I level while receiving an outstanding education. Coach Eve Levinson is creating a program from the ground up and being able to help mold a D1 program as a freshman is a one in a lifetime opportunity. With its brand-new, state of the art athletic facilities, quad and its tremendous amount of school spirit, MU is the perfect university for me; I cannot wait to be a Bear!
Outlook for your high school team: “Although we lost three key seniors, we have 11 girls in the senior class that have been playing together since third grade. With a strong senior class and an abundance of younger talent, we are looking forward to taking on the challenge of the Central League.”
Other comments: “First, I would like to thank my parents for the continuous support, unconditional love, for never allowing me to give up, and for pushing me on and off the lacrosse field.
“Next, I would like to thank my club coach, Donna Coyne, for introducing me to this fantastic sport and helping me throughout this entire recruiting process. She is like a second mother to me and I never would have been able to come this far without her.
“I would also like to thank my previous high-school coaches, Kate Henwood, Amanda Kammes and Christyann Morello, for instilling the idea that hard work and dedication can get you anywhere and for pushing me to be a better lacrosse player every time I step on the field.
“I would like to thank Tom Kovic for helping me navigate the recruiting process and for continuously helping me to be optimistic and to never give up on my dreams. I would also like the thank my physical therapist, James Hashimoto; without him, I never would have recovered from one, let alone two acl surgeries to play at the division one level.
“Finally, I would like to thank all of my Brandywine Majors teammates. Thank you for being the sisters I never had and for making the last eight years the best on and off the lacrosse field.”
Longstreth Women’s Sports, the official sponsor for Phillylacrosse.com girls’ recruits, congratulates Nova Ward. Longstreth specializes in equipment, uniforms and apparel for women’s sports. Longstreth carries a huge selection of all the best women’s heads, handles, goalie gear and player accessories – including shoes and apparel. Visit longstreth.com for directions and information.
