Sports

Canton High School Lacrosse Player Lauren Allard Commits to Indiana Tech

The 5'9" midfielder says she wants to major in energy engineering.

By this time next year, senior Lauren Allard will be well into her first season playing lacrosse at her school of choice, Indiana Tech University.

The Plymouth resident signed a letter of intent last week to play varsity lacrosse at the school in Fort Wayne, Ind. next fall.

“Lauren will contribute immediately to our program," said Indiana Tech coach Ed Karasek. "She is exactly the type of midfielder which we were hoping to add. Her unselfish play, excellent field vision with or without the ball, and outstanding work ethic allow her to find the open player and make quality passes. This young lady is a ‘complete player’ who also has strong defensive skills.”

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Dave Medley, who was the founding coach of the Plymouth-Canton-Salem United lacrosse team in 2006, was instrumental in helping Karasek and Allard find each other.

He sent two other PCS United lacrosse players, Chelsea Olson and Nikki Rottell, Karasek's way in 2009.

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"They have a very good program," Medley said. "It's a serious program and she gets a D2 athletic scholarship with them."

He said he recommended Allard to the school because of her athletic abilities and her positive attitude.

"She's just a perfect team player," Medley said. "She rolls with the punches, is always positive and is just a good all-around kid."

Allard made the varsity lacrosse team her freshman year, and played in the Plymouth recreational league since she was in seventh grade.

"I always played hockey, and it seemed like hockey and lacrosse went hand-in-hand," she said. "I bought a boy's lacrosse stick and just started practicing with that until my parents signed me up for the rec league."

Allard currently plays on the Victory Honda girls ice hockey team.

"What I noticed about Lauren right as a freshman during tryouts was that she knew how to handle the stick," Medley said. "She was the only freshman to get a varsity letter in lacrosse that year, and now she's a captain of the team. But she's so humble, she doesn't ever take anything for granted."

Allard said Indiana Tech's engineering department played a big role in her decision to attend the school. She wants to major in energy engineering.

"I'm interested in finding alternative energy sources  and helping the environment," she said.

She currently carries a 3.8 grade point average.

This year is the first that each high school will have its own girls lacrosse team, and tryouts will take place March 14.

Medley will coach the Salem team, Dave Bower will coach Allard on Canton's team and Steve Nyquist will coach the Plymouth team.


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