Left Hand Valley Courier - All Local, All The Time

Fourth-year varsity lacrosse defender Abby Eidsness didn't realize it at the time, but mom knew best when it came to the Niwot senior's eventual sport of choice.

"I started playing lacrosse in a co-ed rec group because my mom forced me to," Eidsness said of her introduction to the growing sport in sixth grade. "I was really mad at her, and didn't want to do it. I had to play with my younger brother, too-he was on the same team. So, it was kind of a rocky start."

But the more Eidsness played the physical, fast-paced game, the more she enjoyed it, and now she is heading into her senior season as captain of the Thompson Valley Eagles varsity squad, an honor she didn't see coming.

"I was honestly a little surprised that I was chosen," Eidsness said. "I think that as a whole, the girls lacrosse program at Thompson Valley is really connected, even though there are two teams, varsity and junior varsity. As a varsity captain, you have to set an example for both. I'm really excited to help with the new girls and the new freshmen."

Girls lacrosse hasn't yet found a home in St. Vrain Valley schools, so players who want to compete are forced to commute to other districts. Most choose Fairview or Dawson School, but Eidsness chose the Eagles after some advice from a proven source.

"I didn't really know where I was going to play freshman year," she said. "Then my mom did some research, and she found Thompson Valley, and I decided to give it a try. It was kind of a spur of the moment decision."

Eidsness admits that she's not a big fan of the time-consuming drive between Niwot and Loveland, but the choice to buck convention has paid dividends both on and off the lacrosse field.

"When I started playing my freshman year, there was just a varsity team, so as a freshman, I got to play varsity, which was pretty cool. If I'd played at another school, I might not have had that opportunity.

"I have different friend groups here at Niwot and then at Thompson Valley, too," she continued. "I get to make more friends everywhere, so it's helped me expand my horizons a little bit."

It has also helped Eidsness overcome her natural tendency to procrastinate, as she has to balance the commute with a part-time job and a challenging course load in Niwot's notoriously demanding IB program.

"It takes a lot to push myself to do homework on the weekends, because I just want to relax, but I try to work ahead as much as possible. It's been a struggle, but I'm trying to get better."

It has been even more of a struggle for Eidsness during the current pause in the school year and sports seasons, when she has "plenty of time to do whatever." She has been biking and working on stick-handling to stay prepared for lacrosse, but establishing a homework routine has proven difficult, and uncertainty about the upcoming online learning plan and IB tests is not helping.

"I don't really know what to expect," Eidsness said. "I think it will be better for getting sleep and rest, but I feel like it will be a totally different way to learn, and I don't know if it will be easier or harder for me to participate in class."

When she does have free time, Eidsness likes to hang out with her friends. After graduation, she is headed to Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., where she plans to study business. Concordia doesn't have an NCAA women's lacrosse team, but Eidsness hopes to play for their club squad. After college, she would like to open her own business, mostly because she likes the idea of being "in charge of everything."