2020 Women's Lacrosse Roster
Balestra, Christine
Jersey Number 28
Christine Balestra
- Position:
- A
- Class:
- Senior
- Major:
- Supply Chain Management
- Hometown:
- Trappe, Pa.
- High School:
- Perkiomen Valley
Bio
Christie Balestra Feature: Enhancing Supply Chains, On And Off The Field
WHY LEHIGH? “Lehigh University is an excellent school and I know that I will benefit greatly from my academic experiences there. I knew that I wanted the commitment level of a Division I lacrosse program and I felt very comfortable with the coaches and the players. I spent a lot of time visiting the campus and I found that everyone was very welcoming and their enthusiasm is contagious. I am also very happy that Lehigh is close enough to home so that my family and friends can go to the games and support the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh University is a beautiful campus, has an outstanding reputation and will prepare me for my future.”
AS A SENIOR (2020): Played in seven of the eight games (starting one) … Posted two goals (on two shots), one assist and three groundballs … Scored career-high two goals at Davidson (3/9) in what proved to be final game of the season. Also tied a career-high two groundballs … Collected a groundball at UMBC (2/11) … Dished an assist in the season opener against Iona (2/7) ... Named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
AS A JUNIOR (2019): Played in a career-high 16 games with a career-high eight starts … Finished with five goals, four assists and nine points on the year … Added three groundballs … Named the team's Coaches Award winner … Dished an assist in the regular season finale vs. American (4/26) … Collected a groundball at Bucknell (4/20) … Had a goal and groundball at archrival Lafayette (4/17) … Tallied an assist in consecutive games, vs. Army West Point (3/30) and at Colgate (4/6) … Scored a goal in win over UC Davis (3/12) … Finished with a goal and groundball vs. Columbia (3/5) … Tied a career-high two points (one goal, one assist) against Saint Francis (Pa.) (2/23) … Made first start of the season at No. 10 Penn State (2/16) … Scored a goal in the season opener vs. Liberty (2/9) … Named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
AS A SOPHOMORE (2018): Saw increased action as season progressed, playing in 12 games with four starts … Played in final 10 games of the season … Finished season with four goals, four assists, four groundballs and a caused turnover … Dished an assist in the Patriot League Semifinals vs. No. 10 Navy (5/4) … Had a career-high two assists while collecting a groundball in the regular season finale at American (4/28) … Posted a goal and groundball vs. archrival Lafayette (4/18), marking third straight game with a goal ... Also scored at Holy Cross (4/14) and vs. Colgate (4/7) … Tallied first-career assist at Army West Point (3/31) … Posted first-career point (a goal) vs. No. 10 Loyola (3/24) … Collected career-high two groundballs and a caused turnover vs. VCU (3/6) … Named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
AS A FRESHMAN (2017): Saw action in five games, recording a shot, groundball and caused turnover, all coming in the Patriot League Quarterfinals vs. Bucknell (5/2) … Also played in Patriot League games at Army West Point (4/8), Lafayette (4/19) and Bucknell (4/28) … Made collegiate debut at VCU (3/13).
BEFORE LEHIGH: Four-year varsity starter and three-time PAC10 All-Conference team selection at Perkiomen Valley High School … Three-time first team All-Area selection and three-time Perkiomen Valley Offensive MVP … Finished career with 233 goals and 71 assists … Was a two-year varsity captain and US Lacrosse Academic All-American … Received the Howard B. Keyser & Gerald E. Poley Sr. Memorial Award, awarded to an athlete exemplifying qualities of character, dedication and reliability … Was an Elite 120 selected player, a Brine National All-Star and member of the Pennsylvania championship team … Certified PIAA Lacrosse Official and a volunteer coach with Perkiomen Valley Youth Lacrosse and Field Hockey … Also competed in varsity field hockey and cross country at Perkiomen … Strong in the classroom, was vice president of her class and a member of the National Honor Society … Was in the AP/Honors curriculum and achieved highest honors all four years … Also won the American Citizenship Award, Business Information Technology Department Award, Executive Council Award and Friends of Skippack Peace Award (for a student who has waged peace through acts of kindness) … Recipient of the Perkiomen Career Women’s Student Achievement Award as well.
CAREER STATISTICS
CAREER HIGHS
Goals: 2 at Davidson (3/9/20)
Assists: 2 at American (4/28/18)
Points: 2, three times; last at Davidson (3/9/20)
Groundballs: 2 vs. VCU (3/6/18)
Caused Turnovers: 1, two times; last vs. VCU (3/6/18)
WHY LEHIGH? “Lehigh University is an excellent school and I know that I will benefit greatly from my academic experiences there. I knew that I wanted the commitment level of a Division I lacrosse program and I felt very comfortable with the coaches and the players. I spent a lot of time visiting the campus and I found that everyone was very welcoming and their enthusiasm is contagious. I am also very happy that Lehigh is close enough to home so that my family and friends can go to the games and support the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh University is a beautiful campus, has an outstanding reputation and will prepare me for my future.”
AS A SENIOR (2020): Played in seven of the eight games (starting one) … Posted two goals (on two shots), one assist and three groundballs … Scored career-high two goals at Davidson (3/9) in what proved to be final game of the season. Also tied a career-high two groundballs … Collected a groundball at UMBC (2/11) … Dished an assist in the season opener against Iona (2/7) ... Named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
AS A JUNIOR (2019): Played in a career-high 16 games with a career-high eight starts … Finished with five goals, four assists and nine points on the year … Added three groundballs … Named the team's Coaches Award winner … Dished an assist in the regular season finale vs. American (4/26) … Collected a groundball at Bucknell (4/20) … Had a goal and groundball at archrival Lafayette (4/17) … Tallied an assist in consecutive games, vs. Army West Point (3/30) and at Colgate (4/6) … Scored a goal in win over UC Davis (3/12) … Finished with a goal and groundball vs. Columbia (3/5) … Tied a career-high two points (one goal, one assist) against Saint Francis (Pa.) (2/23) … Made first start of the season at No. 10 Penn State (2/16) … Scored a goal in the season opener vs. Liberty (2/9) … Named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
AS A SOPHOMORE (2018): Saw increased action as season progressed, playing in 12 games with four starts … Played in final 10 games of the season … Finished season with four goals, four assists, four groundballs and a caused turnover … Dished an assist in the Patriot League Semifinals vs. No. 10 Navy (5/4) … Had a career-high two assists while collecting a groundball in the regular season finale at American (4/28) … Posted a goal and groundball vs. archrival Lafayette (4/18), marking third straight game with a goal ... Also scored at Holy Cross (4/14) and vs. Colgate (4/7) … Tallied first-career assist at Army West Point (3/31) … Posted first-career point (a goal) vs. No. 10 Loyola (3/24) … Collected career-high two groundballs and a caused turnover vs. VCU (3/6) … Named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
AS A FRESHMAN (2017): Saw action in five games, recording a shot, groundball and caused turnover, all coming in the Patriot League Quarterfinals vs. Bucknell (5/2) … Also played in Patriot League games at Army West Point (4/8), Lafayette (4/19) and Bucknell (4/28) … Made collegiate debut at VCU (3/13).
BEFORE LEHIGH: Four-year varsity starter and three-time PAC10 All-Conference team selection at Perkiomen Valley High School … Three-time first team All-Area selection and three-time Perkiomen Valley Offensive MVP … Finished career with 233 goals and 71 assists … Was a two-year varsity captain and US Lacrosse Academic All-American … Received the Howard B. Keyser & Gerald E. Poley Sr. Memorial Award, awarded to an athlete exemplifying qualities of character, dedication and reliability … Was an Elite 120 selected player, a Brine National All-Star and member of the Pennsylvania championship team … Certified PIAA Lacrosse Official and a volunteer coach with Perkiomen Valley Youth Lacrosse and Field Hockey … Also competed in varsity field hockey and cross country at Perkiomen … Strong in the classroom, was vice president of her class and a member of the National Honor Society … Was in the AP/Honors curriculum and achieved highest honors all four years … Also won the American Citizenship Award, Business Information Technology Department Award, Executive Council Award and Friends of Skippack Peace Award (for a student who has waged peace through acts of kindness) … Recipient of the Perkiomen Career Women’s Student Achievement Award as well.
CAREER STATISTICS
| Season | GP-GS | G | A | Pts | Shots | Shot% | SOG | SOG% | GB | DC | TO | CT |
| 2017 | 5-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 0 | .000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 | 12-4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 7 | .571 | 6 | .857 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2019 | 16-8 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 14 | .357 | 11 | .786 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 2020 | 7-1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1.000 | 2 | 1.000 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 40-13 | 11 | 9 | 20 | 24 | .458 | 19 | .792 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 2 |
CAREER HIGHS
Goals: 2 at Davidson (3/9/20)
Assists: 2 at American (4/28/18)
Points: 2, three times; last at Davidson (3/9/20)
Groundballs: 2 vs. VCU (3/6/18)
Caused Turnovers: 1, two times; last vs. VCU (3/6/18)
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