August 9, 2007
by Rebecca Lestner, Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online
As a senior at Ward Melville High School on Long Island, Shaylyn Blaney may have looked like an ordinary classmate on the outside. However, as many of her fellow seniors had their sights set on prom and graduation, Blaney had her eyes on a different goal.
Blaney, a midfielder on her high school team and a prized signee for Notre Dame, wass embarking on a journey she hoped would lead her where she is today - in Peterborough, Ontario as a member U.S. Under-19 team competing in the 2007 International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations (IFWLA) U-19 World Championship.
Blaney was joined to seek out this goal by nearly 150 athletes representing 19 states at tryouts in 2006, all of whom hoped for one of 18 spots currently occupied on the U-19 team.
Blaney recalls the tryouts as an experience all in itself.
"I was extremely nervous being on the field with the top girls in the game," she says.
Luckily, her nerves did not get the best of her and, in the end, she was rewarded with the coveted spot on the training team and, later, the final roster.
"When they posted the list, my jaw dropped," she says. "I was extremely excited."
Amidst all the anxiety, Blaney thinks back upon the tryouts as a rewarding experience. "It was fun," she says. "I got to meet a bunch of girls from all around [the country]."
As a three-sport athlete, playing basketball, field hockey and lacrosse until the ninth grade, Blaney chose to pursue field hockey and lacrosse through high school. But it is certainly lacrosse that has tied the Blaney family together. Blaney first picked up a lacrosse stick while in the second grade alongside her four siblings: Kelly, 24, Ryan, 22, Keegan, 19, and Deryn, 11. Their parents, Erin and Keith Blaney, also play and see athletics as a true "family affair."
"My dad would always take us out into the backyard to play," Blaney says. "I would always try to keep up with [my brothers and sisters]. It's awesome to be in a family where there's no pressure. I credit 95 percent of where I am right now to my family."
The family connection goes even further than that; Erin Blaney is not only Shaylyn's mother, but was also her lacrosse coach at Ward Melville. Blaney admits that being coached by her mother was hard at first. She recalls it being "difficult to get used to the coach-versus-mom line."
But, she now says she loves it and "wouldn't have it any other way."
As a mom and a coach, Erin has seen the impact lacrosse has had on her daughter, including the latest achievement of making the U-19 team.
"It was one of Shaylyn's goals to make it to the tryouts," Erin says. "Initially it was a very humbling experience for her."
But in the end, Erin says her daughter "found [trying out for the team] to be challenging and inspiring."
As a player, Erin describes Shaylyn as a "dynamic player who brings a presence onto the field." She also touts her stick handling, field sense, strength and speed in the game. As a daughter, Erin says athletics have been a "positive aspect in [Shaylyn's] life." All of these things are helping her "become the woman she is and have laid a great foundation as to where she wants to go."
On and off the field, Erin says her daughter's personality is the same. "She's very intense, fun-loving and she approaches life with a passion that translates onto the field. She is definitely the kind of kid who will give you 120 percent every time."
"It's not just about the sport," Erin says. "It's about teaching them goal-setting, time management and how to work as a team."
Looking toward the future, Blaney is ready for what's ahead of her.
"I think the U-19 team will be a great way to take [my lacrosse career] to the next step," she says. Blaney also realizes that making the team meant learning how to play with a new set of teammates from around the country. "It was hard at first. Even though you have all this talent, you still have to meld together."
Wendy Kridel, head coach of the U.S. U-19 team and current athletic director and coach at the Bryn Mawr (Md.) School, says Blaney stood out in the crowd when she first saw her play.
"Shaylyn is a strong athlete and is visible on both sides of the field," she says. "Her speed, explosiveness and ability to finish stood out. Everything she does is with power, but she is very agile as well. She gets on the field and puts her game face on and gets down to business. She's the real deal."
Kridel says she sees a leader in Blaney. "She just has that type of personality."
No matter what happens in the coming months, Blaney is facing her future head on.
"I'm ready to take the next step in lacrosse and be made into a better player," she says.
She's not the only one excited. Notre Dame coach Tracy Coyne looks forward to Blaney making an impact alongside another former Long Island prep star.
"I can't wait to have Shaylyn and Jillian Byers (Northport) on the field at the same time," Coyne said.
Aug. 9, 2007
Note: This article was excerpted from the January 2007 issue of Lacrosse magazine, a member benefit of US Lacrosse. Become a member today to receive your complimentary subscription.
by Rebecca Lestner, Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online
As a senior at Ward Melville High School on Long Island, Shaylyn Blaney may have looked like an ordinary classmate on the outside. However, as many of her fellow seniors had their sights set on prom and graduation, Blaney had her eyes on a different goal.
Blaney, a midfielder on her high school team and a prized signee for Notre Dame, wass embarking on a journey she hoped would lead her where she is today - in Peterborough, Ontario as a member U.S. Under-19 team competing in the 2007 International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations (IFWLA) U-19 World Championship.
Blaney was joined to seek out this goal by nearly 150 athletes representing 19 states at tryouts in 2006, all of whom hoped for one of 18 spots currently occupied on the U-19 team.
Blaney recalls the tryouts as an experience all in itself.
"I was extremely nervous being on the field with the top girls in the game," she says.
Luckily, her nerves did not get the best of her and, in the end, she was rewarded with the coveted spot on the training team and, later, the final roster.
"When they posted the list, my jaw dropped," she says. "I was extremely excited."
Amidst all the anxiety, Blaney thinks back upon the tryouts as a rewarding experience. "It was fun," she says. "I got to meet a bunch of girls from all around [the country]."
As a three-sport athlete, playing basketball, field hockey and lacrosse until the ninth grade, Blaney chose to pursue field hockey and lacrosse through high school. But it is certainly lacrosse that has tied the Blaney family together. Blaney first picked up a lacrosse stick while in the second grade alongside her four siblings: Kelly, 24, Ryan, 22, Keegan, 19, and Deryn, 11. Their parents, Erin and Keith Blaney, also play and see athletics as a true "family affair."
"My dad would always take us out into the backyard to play," Blaney says. "I would always try to keep up with [my brothers and sisters]. It's awesome to be in a family where there's no pressure. I credit 95 percent of where I am right now to my family."
The family connection goes even further than that; Erin Blaney is not only Shaylyn's mother, but was also her lacrosse coach at Ward Melville. Blaney admits that being coached by her mother was hard at first. She recalls it being "difficult to get used to the coach-versus-mom line."
But, she now says she loves it and "wouldn't have it any other way."
As a mom and a coach, Erin has seen the impact lacrosse has had on her daughter, including the latest achievement of making the U-19 team.
"It was one of Shaylyn's goals to make it to the tryouts," Erin says. "Initially it was a very humbling experience for her."
But in the end, Erin says her daughter "found [trying out for the team] to be challenging and inspiring."
As a player, Erin describes Shaylyn as a "dynamic player who brings a presence onto the field." She also touts her stick handling, field sense, strength and speed in the game. As a daughter, Erin says athletics have been a "positive aspect in [Shaylyn's] life." All of these things are helping her "become the woman she is and have laid a great foundation as to where she wants to go."
On and off the field, Erin says her daughter's personality is the same. "She's very intense, fun-loving and she approaches life with a passion that translates onto the field. She is definitely the kind of kid who will give you 120 percent every time."
"It's not just about the sport," Erin says. "It's about teaching them goal-setting, time management and how to work as a team."
Looking toward the future, Blaney is ready for what's ahead of her.
"I think the U-19 team will be a great way to take [my lacrosse career] to the next step," she says. Blaney also realizes that making the team meant learning how to play with a new set of teammates from around the country. "It was hard at first. Even though you have all this talent, you still have to meld together."
Wendy Kridel, head coach of the U.S. U-19 team and current athletic director and coach at the Bryn Mawr (Md.) School, says Blaney stood out in the crowd when she first saw her play.
"Shaylyn is a strong athlete and is visible on both sides of the field," she says. "Her speed, explosiveness and ability to finish stood out. Everything she does is with power, but she is very agile as well. She gets on the field and puts her game face on and gets down to business. She's the real deal."
Kridel says she sees a leader in Blaney. "She just has that type of personality."
No matter what happens in the coming months, Blaney is facing her future head on.
"I'm ready to take the next step in lacrosse and be made into a better player," she says.
She's not the only one excited. Notre Dame coach Tracy Coyne looks forward to Blaney making an impact alongside another former Long Island prep star.
"I can't wait to have Shaylyn and Jillian Byers (Northport) on the field at the same time," Coyne said.
