Covenant field hockey sophomore Lizzy Shim wanted to see what else was out there. But with the early recruiting timeline that has emerged in many sports including hockey, she had to start looking and exploring fast.
“Honestly it was kind of tough because I wanted to see all my options and not be confined to what I knew, which is UVa,” Shim said. “I wanted to expand my horizons and see what my other options were. That’s something my coaches really pushed me to do, explore a little bit.”
Once she explored though, visiting a number of colleges, Shim knew that the spot she already knew was where she wanted to be. Wednesday morning she committed to UVa’s field hockey program, joining a prestigious group of locals who have suited up for the Cavaliers including former Covenant superstar Taylor Brown who just wrapped up her final season there and made the All-ACC Tournament squad last fall.
“I think the most satisfying part about this is that this has been my dream since the beginning,” Shim said. “The hard work paid off and it’s a special feeling. To work for something for two years and finally get it is pretty awesome.”
Shim has earned All-VISAA Division 2, All-LIS and All-Scrimmage Play honors the last two seasons as one of the Eagles’ top scoring threats and a top notch defender in the midfield. Combining with fellow sophomore Maddie Fagan, Shim helped lead the Eagles to the state semifinals. That edition of the Eagles also went unbeaten against all Central Virginia opponents. Shim is also a key player for the Eagles’ girls lacrosse team.
For Shim, there was some relief to having the process done this early. Now, like many student athletes who commit early and like to have a plan in place, Shim can get pointed toward her next goal and enjoying her high school career.
“It’s nice to have it figured out, take a breather for a second and not be traveling every weekend to colleges,” Shim said.
