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05/20/2021 12:00 AMTaylor Farace dedicated herself to the sport of lacrosse at a young age, and all of that hard work is paying dividends as she nears the end of her junior year at Guilford High School.
Taylor is a midfielder on the Guilford girls’ lacrosse squad. Taylor’s performance the past few years has earned her a scholarship to play Division I lacrosse at Sacred Heart University after she graduates from Guilford.
“This year, I got offered the opportunity to continue my academic and lacrosse career at the Division I collegiate level. I will be attending Sacred Heart University in the fall of 2022,” says Taylor. “It was such an exciting experience to go through the recruiting process, even through COVID-19. It is so rewarding to see everything I worked hard for pay off. I was beyond thrilled to get offers from many different coaches and finally accept to Sacred Heart University.”
Guilford is having another excellent season as the team currently sports a record of 12-2 this spring. Taylor has scored 22 goals to go with 17 assists for the Grizzlies. Taylor helped Guilford win an SCC title in 2019, and she’s optimistic that the team can repeat its postseason success in 2021.
“This season, the team is excited to get to states and the SCC Tournament and defend our title from 2019,” Taylor says. “It was so exciting to get a season this year. All coaches, programs, and players have done so much to ensure everyone feels safe and comfortable on the field. I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to get a chance to play with the team again and reconnect what was lost last year.”
Wendy Epke has seen Taylor continually improve her lacrosse skills from the first time that she picked up a stick. Epke coached Taylor when she started playing lacrosse as a 1st-grader and is now her head coach at the high school.
“Taylor has always been a tenacious defender and a player that is always looking for ways to improve. She is currently a starting midfielder for us and does an excellent job communicating on defense and finding her shot in the back of the net,” says Epke. “Taylor recently committed to play lacrosse at Sacred Heart University, and we are all excited to see her continue to develop into a top player in the SCC.”
Along with competing for Guilford, Taylor also plays club lacrosse for the Nor’Easter Lacrosse team. Taylor is also a member of the Guilford girls’ soccer squad in the fall and played club soccer for Connecticut Football Club until last year.
Taylor has dedicated more and more time to improving her lacrosse game through the years. She’s constantly looking for a way to get an extra edge on the field.
“In order to improve my game, I watch film to specifically see what skills and techniques on the field I could improve,” Taylor says. “Off the field, I like to train hard at Breakout Athlete and work on lacrosse and speed specific workouts.”
When it comes to competition, Taylor thrives in the heat of battle during her lacrosse games. Taylor keeps any nerves under control and is always there to pick up her teammates when they need it most.
“My favorite aspect of the sport is the adrenaline I get running down the field with the ball in my stick ready to make the next play,” says Taylor. “I also love the team energy and environment, no matter the day or time.”
Taylor wants to help the Grizzlies keep winning and put together a strong finish to the season. Taylor feels less pressure now that she has committed to continue at Sacred Heart.
“I look forward to finishing my high school career knowing where I am going to continue my academics,” Taylor says. “Getting the opportunity to continue to play the sport I love at the highest level of collegiate play is exciting.”