SENIOR WEEKS: Villa Maria’s Young is restless as the Hurricanes wait out coronavirus

Villa Maria Academy senior attack and co-captain Hannah Young was eagerly anticipating the girls’ lacrosse season this spring, as the Hurricanes were looking to capture their third consecutive District 1 2A championship.

Young played a large role in those first two district titles, as well as the 2018 PIAA 2A state championship, as she came into the 2020 season with 138 career goals and more than 200 career points. Last spring, she received first team All-AACA honors, and was named team MVP on attack as a sophomore, the year the Hurricanes won the state title.

“It was really quite devastating to hear that the season would be postponed and potentially cancelled,” said Young. “I have been trying to stay positive throughout this time off that we will have a chance to play at least a few games. I have been looking forward to my senior season for four years now and it is heartbreaking to see that slowly slipping away. I feel for the seniors who have to go through this as their last athletic season. Every day my team texts each other about how much we miss one another and competing on the field.”

Villa Maria lacrosse head coach Allie Sweeney said, “Hannah has had a huge impact on our team as a leader, both on and off the field. I cannot say enough about her as a student, person and athlete.”

Young was looking forward to stepping into a role of leadership this spring as co-captain, and one of her goals this spring was to reach the 200 career goal milestone.

Last year, she broke her right hand early in the season, had to get surgery and now has a rod and nine screws in her right hand. But she bounced back from the injury.

“Breaking my hand last year and missing half of the regular season was devastating and I was more than ready to play with my full strength again this season,” said Young. “During the off season I worked heavily on my endurance, as I knew I would need to step up this year and from the start of the game to the end make a difference. I also worked on my non-dominant left hand making sure I could be a threat to cage in both.”

As a sophomore, Young played a key role in the Hurricanes’ victory in the PIAA 2A state championship final against Kennard Dale.

“Ten seconds in the game I scored the first goal and the excitement that went through my body was indescribable,” said Young. “I knew in that moment that as a sophomore I would be on the team that would lead Villa Maria to its first-ever lacrosse state championship.”

Young has grown up with the sport of lacrosse. Her father, William Young, played lacrosse for West Chester University.

“I have had a lacrosse stick in my hand since I was a little girl,” said Young. “My dad’s love for the game has been passed on to me. I grew up playing and watching both the girls and boys game and never stopped.”

An all-around athlete, Young was the Hurricanes’ varsity soccer captain and team Most Valuable Player both as a senior and junior. Last fall, she received All-Area, All-AACA and All-Main Line soccer honors.

Off the field, she carries a 4.17 grade-point average, and belongs to the National Honor Society, the Latin Honor Society and the Math Honor Society.

Next fall, Young will attend University of Massachusetts, where she will play lacrosse and major in Finance.

“Navigating the recruiting process was stressful, but when I visited the University of Massachusetts, met coach Angela McMahon, and the team, I knew it was where I wanted to spend my next four years,” said Young. “Solidifying my decision was Audrey Fantazzia, my big sister on the lacrosse team at Villa who now plays for UMass and has nothing but great things to say about their successful program.

“Leaving my high-school career behind will be a bittersweet goodbye but words cannot describe my excitement to continue to play for such a successful program, with unbelievable coaching and the best girls. Go Minutemen!”