My freshman year in high school, I had a coach tell me that I could only reach my potential in one sport if I quit the other. I had played lacrosse and soccer (plus other sports) for my entire life, and my parents and family had been so supportive about making sure I could get to every practice and game even when it would have been easier to focus on one sport.

At first, I was a little upset. I talked to my dad about it and he told me my parents would support me in whatever I wanted to do. He asked me, “If you truly love playing both, why would you give one up if you have the opportunity to keep playing?”

That resonated with me, and Carolina has given me that opportunity to keep playing both in college. I wanted to be like Maggie Bill, who played soccer and lacrosse here from 2014-18. I was being more heavily recruited for lacrosse, but Coach Jenny Levy was very supportive of my desire to play both sports. Once Anson Dorrance saw me play soccer, and realized that, as he says, I play fast and angry, he allowed me to be part of his incredible program.

Yes, it can be a very busy schedule to play two sports. We’re fortunate, because our teams are so good that we’re usually still competing during exam periods in the fall (soccer) and spring (lacrosse) semesters. There have been days when I’m taking a final exam in the morning and playing in a national semifinal in the evening.

But ultimately, I love it. Both teams have been so supportive of me, and I’ve made so many great friends. Both teams really support a culture of being true to yourself. I don’t feel like I’m putting on a separate hat for each team or being a different person in each locker room. This is Carolina. Excellence is encouraged.

I can’t even put into words how honored I am to be included on a list of Carolina multi-sport athletes that includes people like Julius Peppers. That is crazy to me. I’ve been so fortunate to be on amazing teams with incredible teammates who are so talented.

My freshman year, I had to defend players like Jamie Ortega, Katie Hoeg, and Ally Mastroianni in practice. Those are some of the best lacrosse players ever to play at Carolina. I’ve been on the soccer practice field with Alessia Russo, who is now on England’s national team, and Emily Fox, who is currently on the US women’s national team roster. I’ve improved so much playing against talented players like that. When people ask me how I did this, that’s really the answer— the opportunity to get so much better playing against the best talent in the country and in the world.

Anson Dorrance, Jenny Levy, Damon Nahas, and Phil Barnes, and Carolina as a whole, cultivate a culture where everyone is striving for excellence. All of my teammates are so competitive and truly have a love of the game. It doesn’t feel like a job. It feels like the opportunity of a lifetime, and I love getting this chance to compete in multiple sports—as a Tar Heel.