Harriton’s Emily Stewart is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week

Stewart, a senior midfielder and captain, has been a key factor in the Rams’ success this season – as of May 20, the Rams had clinched a spot in the PIAA 3A state girls lacrosse tournament and as the top seed in District 1, were headed to the district semifinals Tuesday. She has scored 37 goals in 19 games, won 84 draw controls and collected 70 ground balls. Outside of Harriton, Stewart was a part of the Quaker City Lacrosse Club for six years and played on the Philly Team in the National Tournament in 2016 and 2017. Harriton girls’ lacrosse head coach George Dick said, “Emily has been not only a great player for us for the last four years but she has been an incredible role model for the other girls on the team as well as all the girls she has coached in the Lower Merion Girls Youth Lacrosse and Quaker City Club team program. She is one of the most humble and considerate girls we have ever had in the program. She is always offering to help out the team in any way she can whether getting the balls from Coach D’s truck or water for the team. Despite a very good year last year, she worked hard all summer and fall and is arguably our most improved player this year. We need more Emilys!”

Q: What in your opinion have been the biggest keys to your scoring proficiency?

A: I have been working on my shooting a lot outside of practice all throughout this year and I have gained a lot of confidence offensively as well. I have started to be more aggressive when trying to get to goal and our team also has really good feeders who can get me the ball when I cut.

Q: What aspects of your game are you working on most currently?

A: Right now I am working mostly on getting draw controls since it is a crucial part of the game. As we continue through the season, I am really focusing on trying to dominate the midfield and get every draw control.

Q: What has been the most important thing you’ve learned this season regarding winning draw controls?

A: I think the biggest thing I’ve learned about winning draw controls is the second and third efforts on the circle. You really have to battle in there to get the ball and be resilient on each play. Coach D has also introduced some new drills that help me work on getting the ball in a tight space.

Q: Tell us a little about your start in lacrosse. What originally attracted you to lacrosse? Who have been your most important lacrosse mentors, and what was the most important thing each of them taught you?

A: I played all kinds of sports as a kid and I joined the Lower Merion Township lacrosse team in 2nd grade. Dr. Rich Schwab ran the township league back then and coached me for six years. He did a great job teaching me the fundamentals of the game. Then in middle school, I started playing club for Quaker City for my current coach, George Dick. I began as a defensive player and he worked to make me into a midfielder and helped me become a more well-rounded player. I am grateful for everyone who has helped me throughout my lacrosse career and made me the player I am today.

Q: Briefly describe for us your pre-game preparation (physical, mental) on the day of a game.

A: Game day starts with putting on my uniform and fueling up with some chocolate milk. I hit the field early to stretch while I listen to my music and get hyped up to play. Coach D gives us “keys to the game” to help get us mentally prepared.

Q: You wear No. 20 for Harriton. Is there a reason you picked this number – does it have any significance to you?

A: I have been No. 20 for all of my sports at Harriton, both in soccer and lacrosse, and it has been a pretty lucky number for me. I also plan to be No. 20 at Iona College next year.

Q: What has been your most memorable Harriton lacrosse experience? 

A: My most memorable experience at Harriton has to be last year during the Conestoga game. We ended up in overtime and I scored the winning goal. It was such a great feeling to win the close game against one of our toughest rivals in the Central League. 

Q: Do you participate in any other extracurricular activities at Harriton other than lacrosse?

A: I participate in a lot of other sports at Harriton. This year, in addition to being a lacrosse captain, I played soccer in the fall, was a swim team captain in the winter, and ran indoor track during the winter season as well. Over my four years, I have played soccer, ran cross country and indoor track, and swam and dove for the Rams. I am also a member of the National Honor Society, played in the Concert Band, and was a member of the Latin Club.

Q: You work as a volunteer coach with Lower Merion Youth Lacrosse. What is the most important thing you have learned in the past year about coaching?

A: I have worked with all age ranges of kids, from kindergarten to 8th grade, and I get to help them become better lacrosse players. I really love coaching the younger girls in the township because it reminds me of when I was a part of the program. I love that I can give back to the program and help the future lacrosse players improve their game.

Q: What do you think you might want to major in at Iona? Is there a career field that particularly interests you at the present time?

A: I am planning on being a business major at Iona next year.

Fun facts – Emily Stewart

Favorite book: Divergent.

Favorite TV show: Friends.

Favorite movie: The Blind Side.

Favorite athlete: Fletcher Cox.

Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Bounce Back.

Favorite team: Philadelphia Eagles.

Favorite place to visit: Avalon, N.J.

Person I most admire, and why: “My parents. They work hard at everything they do and they are always supporting me and my sisters. They are also at every game cheering me on and I love them very much.”

Family members: parents Jamie and Jen, older sister Jordan, younger sister Allison and dog Miki.

(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated be her coach.)