By Chris Goldberg
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 7/20/16
MIDLOTHIAN, Va. – Las Vegas native Skylar Minden may beused to 115 degree temperatures, but she said the humidity Tuesday in the first day of action at the inaugural Warrior National Prospect Invite at River City Sportsplex was tough to take.
Players Who Shined: from Warrior NPI: (from left) 2018 Skylar Minden (Bishop Gorman-NV, Vegas Lax), 2018 Julianna Golden (Allentown-NJ, Garden State) and 2018 Maggie Ledwith (Kellenberg Memorial-NY, Liberty Lax)
Still, the 2018 attack from Bishop Gorman High was excited to compete with elite players from the East Coast and beyond in the NPI.
“I saw that there was an opening for this event and signed up,” said Minden, who plays club for Vegas Lax. “We don’t have enough big clubs in Nevada to have a tournament unless we stack all the girls together.
“I love lacrosse. We have a great high school team – four-time state champs – and fantastic coaches But here it’s so different. Everyone is so good. We are still developing skills out West; here they are insane. I play summer and fall ball and play the sport year round, but this experience is so valuable for me. It will makeme more comfortable as a player.”
Minden helped lead the attack for the Purple team, which won its two showcase games on Tuesday. In all, there are 60 girls and 130 boys – all uncommitted – competing in the 2-day event that features elite coaching and skill development from college coaches and showcase games.
“I want to work on my skills and bring them back to my team back home,” said Minden. “I want to have a good experience and find new friendships with girls I may be playing with in future years.
“(Tuesday) morning we worked on agility and different drills. The coaches are really helpful. One thing I learned was better hand placement.”
Minden wants to play college lacrosse at a program that has strong academics and team unity.
“I want good weather and a really nice, strong friendly team with really good academics,” she said. “It doesn’t matter where it is.”
Another key player for the Purple team was Julianna Golden, a 2018 midfield/attack from South Jersey’s Allentown High and Garden State Elite.
“My AD and club coach nominated me and our club season ended before July,” said Golden. “I did Brine (National Lacrosse Classic) last year, but when I heard this event was for uncommitted players I liked that and I just love this complex.”
Golden said her teammates share a common goal.
“I’ve done tons of camps with people, but everyone is here for the same reason,” she said. “People here understand you are not just going to be recruited by playing for yourself. We have a great group of girls playing well together.”
What does Golden want to work on while she is here?
“I definitely need to get back into shape since I have been sucking wind while getting back on defense,” she joked. “I just want to get some looks from coaches and keep getting touches. Some of the girls here were at college camps I have been to before so it’s nice to play with girls interested in the same schools.”
Golden has had D1 interest – but her biggest concern is finding a school where she can be a pre-med major.
“I have had some interest from D1 coaches and high D3 teams, but I want to go to med school so finding a school with a pre-med program and a strong emphasis on the health sciences is important.”
Maggie Ledwith, a 2018 defender from Kellenberg Memorial (N.Y.) and Liberty club, also was a key player for the Purple team. She said her team quickly jelled.
“There is some really good competition and it’s cool to see everyone’s different style of play since we have players from so many areas,” said Ledwith, a midfielder/defender. “Our team meshed really well on the first day.”
Ledwith said her team stepped up the pace on defense.
“Today the coaches told us to send high pressure at the 12 and that worked on defense,” she said. “For me looking up on transitions helps a lot.”
What type of college is Ledwith looking for? “I am just looking for somewhere that I can fit in nicely with,” she said.