Adjusting on the fly
4/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
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As a senior on the women’s lacrosse team, Seana Smith has evolved into one of the stronger leaders and all-around student-athletes in the Lehigh athletics program. Faced with a number of unexpected hurdles since arriving in
Smith, a Yardley,
“She came in expecting to play for someone else other than me as a head coach,” Ota said, “which can be a difficult adjustment for most athletes. Seana [Smith], though, adjusted beautifully.”
To make things even more difficult, Smith was asked to change her position from attacker to defense. Despite the difficult adjustment in her first year at the university, Smith learned the position quickly and has played in every game in her four years at Lehigh.
“I never really thought of myself as a defender,” Smith said, “so it has been an adjustment to learn all the different defensive techniques. Playing defense is a lot different than attacker because there is no shooting, I do not need to know the offensive plays, and it is more important that I distribute the ball to other players.”
Smith has not only adjusted to a new coach and a new position, but has flourished. Smith received the coaches award as a junior and was named co-captain of the team for her senior season.
“We coaches selected her for the coaches award and as captain because we see her as an extension of ourselves on the field,” Ota said. “I think her leadership is one of her strengths and that is seen by not only the coaches, but the other players as well. She really has the respect of everyone out on the field.”
Smith, a journalism major, is involved in Lehigh’s C.O.A.C.H. program, student-athlete council, and is a sister in the Delta Gamma sorority. She also took a number of classes as a pre-medical student during her first two years on
“This summer I am doing an internship with Fox News in
Smith plans to then return to Lehigh in the fall as a graduate student in the Health and Biopharmaceutical Economics program. In addition to the master’s program, Smith will help coach the lacrosse team as a graduate assistant.
As one of only two seniors on this year’s team, Smith says she is excited to work with the number of promising young players next season, but for the rest of this season as well.
“I think it is important that we keep working on the team chemistry and our specific roles out on the field,” Smith said. “If everyone does that and we just play well for the rest of the season, we can definitely make some noise in the Patriot League tournament. I think we have a chance to do some special things.”
With the young talent on the team and the leadership provided by Smith and Ota, Lehigh women’s lacrosse is in good hands.
Smith and the rest of the Mountain Hawks close out their regular season on Saturday when they travel to Lewisburg to take on the Bucknell Bison. The opening draw control is set for 1:00.
Story written by Kylan McQuaig, Lehigh Sports Media Relations
