Last Thursday, in the 18-13 upset over No. 12 Indiana University of Pennsylvania, sophomore Slippery Rock University women’s lacrosse standout Lauren Laubach scored six goals, dished out one assist, and had four draw controls to lead the Rock to the PSAC victory.
“Winning against IUP was one of the greatest days of my life,” Laubach said with a smile. “It felt awesome to play so well in such an important game for us.”
Laubach was recognized by Synapse Sports yesterday for earning an honorable mention for the top Division II performers for her breakout performance against IUP last week.
She is currently ranked seventh in the nation in draw controls, averaging 5.9 per game.
Laubach’s lacrosse career started when she was in the first grade back in Kingsville, Maryland. Her family moved to New Park in southeast Pennsylvania when she was in the third grade.
During her junior year, Laubach helped lacrosse become an official sport at her school, Kennard-Dale High School.
During her senior year, Laubach was named the York-Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association Player of the Year. During that season, she had 80 goals, 80 assists, 104 ground balls, and 105 draw controls. She was also named the York Daily Record Lacrosse Player of the Year in 2010. Under Laubach’s leadership, Kennard-Dale was the York County Champion for four years.
Laubach made honor roll all four years of high school and was named the Most Outstanding Dual-Enrollment Student for her college-level classes during her senior year. She was the only person from her graduating class to receive two scholarships.
In high school, Laubach also participated in field hockey and tennis, lettering once in both sports.
Last season, she played in all 17 games as a freshman. She finished the year as sixth on the team in scoring with 19 goals and 10 assists. Laubach led the team in draw controls with 49, which ranked her as fifth in the PSAC. She was a finalist for 2011 PSAC Rookie of the Year.
Laubach has many goals for herself and many goals that she would like to achieve with her teammates.
“Obviously, I want the team to improve each game and make the PSAC playoffs by the end of the season,” Laubach said. “I feel like SRU is extremely underrated and I want to put us on the map next year. Individually, I want to keep improving in draw controls and even out with my goals and assists. I don’t want us to be the underdogs anymore, so hopefully we finish the season strong and get a higher ranking next spring.”
Sophomore teammate Lacey Allis said that she admires Laubach for her toughness in games.
“Lauren is a very strong and aggressive player when she steps onto that field,” Allis said. “She could get hit in head and she’d just brush it off and keep playing her heart out.”
Allis also said that Laubach is a great teammate and possesses many positive leadership qualities.
“She’s a different player on and off the field,” Allis admitted. “She gets so into the game, you can just see the intensity in her eyes. On the sidelines, she is very supportive of our team and always offers positive encouragement. We’re lucky to have her on the team because of all that she brings.”
Laubach says that her father is her biggest inspiration and motivator as an athlete.
“My dad calls me before and after every match to give me words of encouragement,” Laubach said. “He is honest with me and gives me constructive criticism on how to improve my game. I really appreciate all he does for me and I look up to him so much.”
After graduation, Laubach wants to attend graduate school in the south and get a job in physical therapy or speech pathology.
