Meet First-year Defender Lauren Acker

Name: Lauren Acker
Class: 2012
Hometown: Bloomfield Hills, MI
High School: Birmingham Seaholm
Uniform: 5
Potential Major: undecided
Favorite Food:

Anything my mom cooks!
Favorite Color: Blue and Green

What led you to attend and play lacrosse at W&L?
- I always knew that I wanted to go to a division III school with great academics to play a sport at the collegiate level. And one of my coaches from high school, Ginny (a 2000 graduate), played both soccer and lacrosse for W&L and always spoke so highly of the school.

So far, what’s been the best part of being a Generals lacrosse player?
-Getting to know all of the girls on the team has been great. I really enjoy being a part of such a great program. Honestly, I don’t know what I would do with all my time! I’ve always played sports and had to balance academics and practices, I think I would be bored and I certainly wouldn’t be having as much fun!

What has the best food been so far at the elaborate post-game tailgates?
-All of the fresh fruit (especially the berries), and the brie, and pretty much all of the desserts! We never get that stuff in d-hall!

Besides lacrosse, what it your favorite activity you have done on campus?
-I’ve been able to take a music course both fall and winter semesters and I have attended some fantastic concerts that I never would have been able to see off-campus.

What is your favorite book? Why?
-I think Jodi Picoult is an excellent writer. My Sister’s Keeper is my favorite book by her.

What was the last movie you watched?

-I had to watch Hamlet for my English class this past week. But before that I watched American Beauty, its strange but I highly recommend it!

Do you have any exciting plans for the upcoming summer?
-I’m going to study abroad in Valparíaso, Chile this summer for about 5 weeks. I’ll be studying Spanish and the culture. After my classes are finished I am going to meet my family in Peru to do an extra week of traveling.

Any other fun facts about yourself you’d like to share?
-I love to travel and would like to live and work abroad when I graduate.

The Captains Review Spring Break Lax Style

With several big wins this week, our spring break could not have been much better. We were spoiled by some of our biggest supporters (our parents) who hosted us for dinner. We ate at the Farrar's house here in Lexington on Monday night before our Guilford game and the Spears' house on Friday night before a great win over non-region opponent, Colorado College. We also had one of the biggest and best tailgates after the Colorado College game. Seeing so many family and friends is really special, and the weather was amazing. The team also spent lots of time together off the field. On Wednesday afternoon, we all drove down to Wendy's house for a cookout. The team invented a new variation of ping-pong, brushed up on their crayon-coloring skills, and enjoyed the breath-taking views from the Orrison family's new deck. Thursday afternoon the team put on a lacrosse clinic for young, local girls. The weather was perfect, and we enjoyed sharing our enthusiasm for the sport with some beginner players.
All in all, it was a very successful spring break. We think that the strong practices and team-bonding time that we had this week will make us well-prepared for ODACs next week

Meet First-year Midfielder Christina Benedetti

Name: Christina Benedetti
Class: 2012
Hometown:

Derwood, Maryland
High School: The Academy of the Holy Cross
Uniform: 3
Potential Major: Math/Journalism (?)
Favorite Food: This is really hard RBarr…but I’d pick pasta and nachos
Favorite Color: Cerulean

What led you to attend and play lacrosse at W&L?
-I chose to come to W&L because it had everything that I was looking for in a college. I was looking for a relatively small school so that I would have small classes and close relationships with my professors. By attending W&L, I had the opportunity to play both field hockey and lacrosse. I didn’t want to have to give up either of the sports and I didn’t have to by coming here. W&L is about 3 hours from home – the perfect distance for me. I wanted to play lacrosse at W&L because I have been playing lacrosse since kindergarten. I couldn’t imagine my life without it.

So far, what’s been the best part of being a Generals lacrosse player?
-So far, the friendships I’ve created on the team have been the best part of being on the team. I’ve met so many new people and enjoy watching everyone work hard for one another.

What has the best food been so far at the elaborate post-game tailgates?

-The crab dip and taco dip are my favorite foods so far at the tailgates. SO YUMMY!

Besides lacrosse, what it your favorite activity you have done on campus?

-Besides lacrosse, I have enjoyed playing field hockey in the fall. The opportunity to be on such a close team was really special. I also enjoy volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. It’s really touching to work with the people who will be living in the house you’re building.

What is your favorite book? Why?
-Up until recently, my favorite book has been A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. I really enjoy personal narratives and this book is really interesting and inspiring. The book is about a young boy caught in Sierra Leone’s civil war. He survives and writes the memoir from his point of view as a young child.
However, my new favorite books are the Twilight series. I couldn’t put them down. They kept you on your toes throughout all four books. I love Edward!

What was the last movie you watched?

-The last movie I watched was High School Musical 3. Haha…obviously it was amazing! I love High School Musical and the third one just came out on DVD. I love the songs…they get me pumped up for games.

Do you have any exciting plans for the upcoming summer?
-Not particularly. I plan on getting a job, hanging out with friends, and going to Ocean City, MD whenever I get a chance. I also hope to visit some W&L friends.

Any other fun facts about yourself you’d like to share?
-I like to shoot archery and read... I AM A GRYFFINDOR!

Meet First-year Attacker Allison Shearin

Name: Alli Shearin
Class: 2012
Hometown: Essex Fells, NJ
High School: West Essex High School
Uniform: #22
Potential Major: Not a clue
Favorite Food: Wendy’s
Favorite Color: PINK!!!

What led you to attend and play lacrosse at W&L?
-I always knew about W&L because my uncle played lacrosse here, and my dad played at Roanoke. They both told me what an awesome school it was for as long as I can remember. Also, Washington and Lee seemed to be the only school that was a perfect fit for me, because it is challenging academically, has a great lacrosse program, and allows you to still have a social life on top of all that!

So far, what’s been the best part of being a Generals lacrosse player?
-Honestly, words can’t even describe it. It means that I can play the sport I love with my best friends. My lacrosse team is the greatest group of girls I have met, and I can’t even imagine my life here without them. We share and unbelievable bond both on and off the field, and I just love every minute of being on this team.

What has the best food been so far at the elaborate post-game tailgates?
-My personal favorite is the Oreo pudding that my mom makes. It is SOO delicious!!!

Besides lacrosse, what it your favorite activity you have done on campus?

-I love to hang out with my friends, and I especially love feasting with the other first-years in D-Hall after practice. We often stay for over an hour, and playing “would you rather” is one of my personal favorites. We have so much fun and never stop laughing.

What is your favorite book? Why?
-My favorite books are the whole Twilight series. I just can’t get enough of them, although they make me jealous that I can’t be a vampire myself. (A life without Twilight is often one of the “would you rather” options, and as you can imagine, the other option always wins)

What was the last movie you watched?

-The last movie I watched was Twilight, and the reason I watched it is because it is amazing and I have a sad obsession for vampires. What made the movie even better though, was that I got to snuggle with Maddie while we watched on our pullout couch in our hotel room in Orlando.

Do you have any exciting plans for the upcoming summer?
-Nothing too exciting, but I can’t wait to go home and spend time with my family and friends. I also lifeguard and coach swim team for little kids at my pool. I am a kid at heart, so I love playing with them. And, I get to be outside all day in the sun—it is the best job ever!

Any other fun facts about yourself you’d like to share?
-I love to recycle, I love Dalmatians, and although I was deemed unfit for any particular house, I am Dobby.