Uphill Battle; Lexi Rich’s Journey to College Lacrosse Unique as an Erie County Native

Being the daughter of two college athletes means your household is naturally competitive. Though it would not be baseball or rowing that she followed similarly to her parents. Instead, she followed her older sister, Alyssa, into the sport of lacrosse.

Since her first day playing the game beginning in middle school, it’s been an obsession. It’s a game that doesn’t come easy, but if you know Lexi, she doesn’t take the easy way out of things. If you plan to be a general dentist like she does one day, there’s no such thing as easy.

For years, Rich has balanced being a high honor roll student, a committed member of the McDowell Lady Trojans lacrosse program, and a member of True Lacrosse on the club scene. Trips to Pittsburgh have been frequent along with traveling around the east coast to get noticed by college coaches at tournaments. It hasn’t stopped her from committing to her community though as she’s helped local food banks in Erie, while also gaining first-hand knowledge from a local dentist to learn more about the trade.

All the hard work is paying off in many ways as not only was she named McDowell’s Homecoming Queen, but she’s now on her way to being a college athlete and a pre-dental student. Sacrifices of long days, long car rides, fundraising for her high school team, and giving up pivotal games early in her high school because of COVID-19 shutdowns have been overcome by controlling the controllables.

Though there were some great schools and programs that recruited her, Maryville University in St, Louis, Missouri and of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) was the school she’s decided on for her future. A program that’s looking to take a leap, Rich will have an opportunity like at McDowell to put her school on the map in a sport that’s deserving of more recognition.

Graphic courtesy of Maryville Women’s Lacrosse.

The game of lacrosse is one that requires elite conditioning, advanced skills, sound strategy, and immense toughness. All these skills are ones that she possesses and will be needed as she takes on Division II athletics and studies towards becoming a dentist one day. 

So far in her lacrosse career, she’s racked up an Under Armour All America Spotlight Division, became the first junior captain in McDowell girls lacrosse program history, helped the Lady Trojans to two District 10 titles and regional playoff games, became an Erie Times News Female Athlete of the Week nominee, earned a 2022 Erie Times News D10 Girls Lacrosse All-Star First-Team selection, was named the Midfield Player of the Year, and became the Sportsmanship, Coachability, and Hustle Award recipient for McDowell.

To get to this point, her parents Leslie and James have been key in supporting her in the game of lacrosse. Though they never played the games or knew much about it till their daughters played, they’ve supported each of them to try new things and a new passion has formed. Additionally, her head coach at McDowell, Kate Hoffman, has been the key figure in both lacrosse and life she’s needed during these formative years. How much she cares about the programs and her players is something Rich is especially grateful for.

For a young woman with so many accolades and talents, her kindness shines through whenever you meet her. She’s driven to help people remain feeling and looking their best, while also continuing to put Erie, Pennsylvania on the map for the game of lacrosse. Best of luck as you enter your senior season and as you continue to work towards your long-term goals, Lexi!