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Abi
Jackson
Williams College #43
Division III
|
 |
|
Name |
Abi Jackson |
| Year |
Senior |
| School |
Williams College |
| Height |
5'10 |
| Weight |
180 |
| Lacrosse
Number & Why |
43. When I was
a freshman a senior had my favorite number (17) so I took a translation
of my basketball number 23. (We didn't really have much choice in
the goalie jersey number department.) |
| High
School & Hometown |
The Winsor School,
Jamaica Plain MA |
High
School Achievements
& Recognition |
I was one of
only 2 freshmen to ever play five years on the varsity team. 4 year
E.I.L. League All-Star. Two-Year All-New England. One year All-American.
Elected captain of the team senior year. Won the lacrosse prize
at graduation given to the player who most represents skill, sportsmanship
and leadership. |
|
College Achievements
& Recognition |
Started every
game freshman year and went to the national final. Second Team All-NESCAC
as a freshman. First Team All-NESCAC and All-Region sophomore year.
Second Team All-NESCAC junior year. Elected captain senior year.
Received Division III National Player of the Week honors for the
week of April 1st. Undefeated (4-0) thus far in the season. |
| Years
Played Lax |
11 years. |
| Years
Played Goalie |
9 years. |
| Other
Positions |
Attack wing. |
| Preferred
Gear |
Brine field player
gloves and chest protector. STX sticks. |
| Favorite
food |
Sushi and Swordfish |
| Favorite
cd |
Any Radiohead
album |
| Favorite
movie |
Goodfellas |
| |
|
Why do
you play?
I love the speed of the game and I love the playing in goal (I am
the soccer goalie here as well). |
Why are
you a goalie?
I started playing because my high school coach needed a goalie because
the one she had already was a senior. I was the only other sort
of goalie in the school so I agreed to try it and it just stuck. |
How important
is the goalie position?
Infinitely important. We end fast breaks against our teams and begin
fast breaks for our teams. The saves we make or don't make can shift
momentum and turn the tide of a game very easily. We most importantly,
we direct and organize the defense, which as we all know can make
or break a game. |
|
Any advice for
aspiring goalies?
When I first started playing, I somehow knew that this was a position
for me. Another girl who was also training simply never got into
it and eventually switched to field. You will know whether or
not being a goalie is what you want, but while you're figuring
it out remember to stick with it and have no fear. The biggest
problem with aspiring goalies is stick technique and fear of the
ball. Get your stick motions down like clock work so that they
become second nature. The movements have to be automatic because
you really don't have time to think. Having stick motions down
will maximize your saves and minimize getting hit with the ball.
Which brings me to my second point.
Now, I'm not saying it's not scary and crazy, because it is,
but the fact is that the lacrosse goalie position calls for people
to throw hard rubber balls in your direction. The one piece of
instant advice I can offer is this: if you don't watch the ball,
you can't protect yourself. Don't think of it as the ball hitting
you, concentrate on keeping an eye on it so you know what it's
doing. Besides, your teammates shouldn't be hitting you anyway.
Goalie shots don't count for points. |
Quote
regarding the goalie position
Focus is everything. Only you can raise your game. |
“ From this position, Abi has
not only been able to direct and lead our defense on the field, but
to also give great advice regarding clearing, midfield and attacking
play because she is able to read what is effective and what isn't,
vs. particular defenses and goalies. Abi's individual play has been
extremely important to our team's play over these last four years
that she has been our starting goalie. She is a tremendous athlete
- quick, fast, agile and strong! She has great anticipation, therefore
she comes up with excellent saves and blocks, as well as many interceptions
and ground balls for our team. She also has very strong and accurate
clears, which give us a quick transition onto attack. Abi is a great
competitor, who expects excellence from herself and her team. She
is bright and quick witted and very well respected and loved by her
teammates! We will very much miss Abi's play on the field next year,
but we know that she, along with her other seniors teammates, has
helped raise the level of our team's competitiveness and that this
impact will carry on. ”
- Head Coach Chris
Mason
meet
Abi's team
Williams College • Ephs
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