By RICH FISHER
Contributing Editor
It took a while but, as time went on, all-around athlete Maddie Koehler couldn’t resist the lure of lacrosse being her favorite sport.
She started in fourth grade – one year after beginning basketball – when her parents signed her up for Brick Youth Lacrosse thinking “it might be a good fit for me. I was a very energetic and competitive kid.”
And while it was OK, it wasn’t at the top of her list.
“I never didn’t like lacrosse,” the Donovan Catholic, Toms River, junior said. “For the longest time, basketball was my favorite. I still do love basketball; however, lacrosse is my number one now.”
Maddie Koehler has been such a driving force for Donovan Catholic that she was voted captain as a junior. Courtesy photo
She plays three sports for the Griffins, including field hockey, and has established herself as a legitimate star in lacrosse.
Through Donovan Catholic’s 4-7 start, Koehler was in the top 10 for goals and points in the Shore Conference with 70 goals, 14 assists and 84 points. She is helped up front by junior Gianna Delli Santi, who has emerged with 47 goals this year, but Koehler has been a force since her freshman year.
Koehler had 39 goals and 22 assists as a freshman and 40 goals and six assists last year, giving her 149 goals and 42 assists for her career as of May 8.
Coach Rick Meana saw a special scorer right away.
“When I first saw Maddie as a freshman, she was not at all afraid to take on any defender,” Meana said. “She loved the fast break and had tremendous agility and quickness. She has continued to develop from participating in summer lacrosse camps and the competition she faces in the club environment. The high school game seems to be easier for her.”
Once Koehler began taking lacrosse seriously, she joined the Maddog club team in 8th grade and credits the organization for developing her game.
“Learning from great coaches with real college experience and playing at a competitive level has taught me countless things,” she said.
Those abilities are on display every time the midfielder touches the ball. In utilizing a work ethic that never rests, she has self-assuredness and, in turn, better skills.
“I never back down from a challenge,” Koehler said. “Having confidence in myself improves how I play. If I am unsure that I can beat someone, I will end up dropping the ball, but if I have confidence in myself, I will be able to create an opportunity to score.
“I think the reason I am so confident in myself is because I put a lot of time and effort into practicing to improve my game. I trust myself and my ability to play lacrosse, so I am not afraid of and will not back down from any defender.”
Koehler’s determination was noticed by her teammates, as they selected her as captain for the team, which is a rare feat for a junior.
“She was chosen because of her skill and talent as a sophomore and her teammates respected her at her age,” Meana said. “She was able to achieve so much helping our 2024 team win the Independence Division with a 7-0 record.”
Maddie Koehler is Donovan Catholic’s statistical leader in most offensive categories. Courtesy photo
Koehler was flattered to be named captain, saying it “made me feel like a leader and that they trust me. That meant so much to me and it motivated me to work harder, knowing that newer players are looking up to me.”
As for winning the division title, Maddie said “it showed us that we can do great things if we play to each other’s strengths and work together. It was a great accomplishment.”
Koehler credits her accomplishments to trust in God. The Brick Township resident attends St. Dominic Parish, Brick.
“I lean on faith to make me a better person,” she said. “I believe in caring for everybody and being a good person. I try to always better myself and the Church shows me ways to do so.”
She has bettered herself in many ways on the lacrosse field. Aside from being a scorer, Koehler leads the team in ground ball pickups (64) and draw controls (65). Of all her talents, Meana likes her scoring ability the best.
“She takes the draw but is equally adept on the circle,” the coach said. “She has a high lacrosse IQ and can play any position but her go-to is midfielder. She’s a stick magician, her dodging and driving past opponents in scoring positions is her strength.”
Koehler likes to score in a variety of ways but wants to be known as a complete player.
“I do work very hard on all the aspects of my game, not just scoring,” she said. “I always want to be an asset to my team all over the field not just on the scoreboard. I work very hard on being a versatile player who has strengths all over the field.”
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