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07/30/2020 12:00 AMChristina DeAngelo had been playing basketball and softball for a couple of years when she decided to try her hand at lacrosse in 5th grade. Several of Christina’s friends were already playing lacrosse, so she wanted to get involved and give the sport a shot. While it might have started out as an effort to bond with her friends, Christina quickly discovered that lacrosse was a sport she was going to stick with in the long run.
“I fell in love with the sport as soon as I started playing,” says Christina. “I liked being active and running around. I played softball at the same time, and I just felt like lacrosse was more exciting.”
Christina recently graduated from North Haven High School, where she played both lacrosse and field hockey. Christina was motivated to start playing field hockey after some athletes from the North Haven team visited her middle school when she was in 8th grade. As a freshman, Christina attended Sacred Heart Academy and joined the school’s field hockey team.
While being a two-sport athlete at the high school level came with some challenges, Christina developed a routine and enjoyed participating in her new sports. Christina says that she learned valuable things from each of them and then translated those skills to the field, whether she was playing lacrosse or field hockey.
“They both helped me. Both sports, you have to move off of the ball. You have to know how to cut and how to get open to receive a pass,” Christina says. “You have to stay in shape. When lacrosse ends, you have to go right back into field hockey. It kept me in shape all year-round.”
Christina transferred to North Haven High School for her sophomore year. After having competing alongside many members of the girls’ lacrosse team since 5th grade, Christina made a smooth transition to North Haven. The fact that many athletes on the lacrosse team also played field hockey made the move that much easier.
Christina plays the defensive wing position on the lacrosse field. Bernie Pellegrino was North Haven’s assistant coach in Christina’s sophomore and junior seasons, and this spring would have marked his first year as head coach of the high school team had the season been played. Pellegrino, who is now coaching Christina with the North Haven Warriors in the Dream League, says that she’s a true joy to coach and an excellent leader both on and off the turf.
“Christina’s a really nice kid—very sociable, very respectful, very coachable. She’s great to work with,” says Pellegrino. “You can’t say enough about the kid. She was one of our leaders on the lacrosse team. She led by example and was always encouraging her teammates. Everything you want of a leader, Christina was. Plus, she’s a great athlete.”
Christina appreciates that playing sports in North Haven has helped her form so many friendships. Christina has become best friends with many of her teammates during the past few years. Rather than the wins and losses, Christina will always remember the bonds they created and the memories they shared together.
“Before games, having the music on and getting ready, the team spirit, all the team bonding—those moments will stick with me more than the games,” Christina says. “I knew that these people will have my back if I made a mistake. They can make me laugh. They’ll always be by my side.”
Earlier this year, Christina received Scholar Athlete recognition from the CIAC. Now that she’s graduated from North Haven, Christina is going to attend Penn State University, where she will major in mechanical engineering with plans on playing lacrosse at the club level. Christina says that she’s learned a lot of valuable lessons throughout her time as a lacrosse player in North Haven.
“Lacrosse taught me how to be there for your teammates. It gave me all these new friendships,” says Christina. “Lacrosse has made me a better person. It taught me how to pick yourself up if you make mistakes. Always put your heart out there, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.”