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Rider Makes a Great Impression as a Freshman at Valley

Freshman Tory Rider is off to an outstanding start to her high-school career as a member of the Valley Regional girls’ lacrosse squad. In her first season, Tory led the Warriors with 101 points scored on 69 goals and 32 assists this spring. She also helped Valley have its best season in several years as the Warriors won nine games and qualified for both the Shoreline Conference and Class S State tournaments.

Tory role in Valley’s success earned her All-Shoreline First Team and All-State Second Team honors. She also plays a floater position for the Warriors’ field hockey squad, recording 35 points last fall.

Tory accomplished quite a lot during her freshman year, and that was by design. Prior to this season, Tory’s intention was to put up some big-time numbers on the lacrosse field for Head Coach Cory Needleman’s team.

“I work really hard, and I sacrifice. The awards are a big accomplishment, because I just started,” says Tory. “It makes me feel very good about myself and that all my hard work is paying off. I have a passion and a drive to play. I want to be the best.”

Part of the process of becoming a top attacker includes learning how to adapt to different situations, and Tory adjusts quickly on the fly when she’s heading toward the net. Tory’s versatility makes her difficult for her opponents to handle and often results in a goal for either her or one of her Warriors’ teammates.

“Normally, I dodge or do a swim move if I’m in a one-on-one situation. I’ll switch hands or dump it to a different girl if I get double teamed or I’ll just go straight for the goal,” Tory says. “Normally, I pump-fake and shoot low, because that’s harder to get for a goalie. If I’m getting face-guarded, I try to help my teammates instead. I can set a pick to help get someone free.”

One teammate who Tory often gets the ball to is junior Allie Ruel, a fellow attacker. Tory attributes much of her early success to the synergy that she has with Ruel.

“Since she’s a lefty, she helps me know when to switch sides. She’s always there for the ball,” says Tory, an Essex resident. “Allie was getting face-guarded at the beginning of the year, which freed me up. We make a great 1-2 punch.”

While Tory and Allie receive a lot of attention on the field, Tory knows that the Warriors’ midfielders and defenders also deserve a lot of credit for the club’s positive results this season.

“There are lot other contributors. The success of Valley is a team effort. Our defense is strong like a rock. We’re always talking on the field, and our slides are there when we need them,” says Tory. “We get the ball up field quickly. If a midfielder is getting tired, the defender will go over and settle the ball. Coaches Needleman and [assistant coach Randy Netsch] are always working us on defense and making sure we move our feet.”

Coach Needleman is impressed with what Tory can do with a lacrosse stick in her hands. However, she says the freshman’s skill set goes beyond what happens between the goals.

“Tory brings a high level of skill and intensity. As a freshman, she has done a great job at communicating with her teammates and coaches on and off the field. She continuously shows passion for the sport and is always looking to improve,” Needleman says. “Her contagious smile brings out the best in the people around her. I am very excited to coach her these next few years and see her development as a person and a player.”

In addition to her teammates and coaches, Tory says she owes a lot to her family, especially her mother and father. Tory’s father Graham has coached her, and Tory’s mother Paula plays a big role in helping her train and keep as fit as possible.

“My dad, he’s more of my coach than my mom. My dad helps me dodge better and know stuff about lacrosse more than working out and training,” says Tory, who also thanks her grandfather George, who played lacrosse at Yale. “My mom helps me create workouts with running, lifting, and stuff like that. My mom pushes me to do one more rep, and she’s always positive and a good trainer.”

Tory has her sights set on reaching the next level of play. Never one to shy away from hard work, Tory wants to continuously get better and earn herself a chance to play lacrosse at a Division I college, where she hopes to study medicine.

“I want to use lacrosse to help me get into college. I want to be a doctor,” Tory says. “I want to be an All-American lacrosse player, and I would love to go a DI school for college.”