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Decision, decisions: Duke, USC, Penn State, Yale or Stanford?
The enviable choice belonged to 16-year-old Bayport-Blue Point lacrosse midfielder Maddigan Miller.
“I could have seen myself at any one of those incredible universities,” said Maddigan, a junior midfielder. “Ultimately, I felt Stanford was the absolute best fit, both academically and athletically, for me.”
Maddigan, who committed this fall to playing lacrosse at Stanford, said she was won over during her visit to the prestigious university’s campus earlier this year.
“The campus is absolutely beautiful. The athletic facilities were amazing,” she said. “As I walked around campus, I could see myself happy and thriving at Stanford.”
The rich history of Stanford’s accomplished alumni — which includes a U.S. president, Herbert Hoover, and several Supreme Court justices — also influenced Maddigan’s decision.
“The opportunity to attend one of the top academic universities in the world was extremely appealing to me,” said Maddigan, who this summer was selected to play for the USA U17 National Lacrosse team. “And I’m excited to be a part of such a talented group of players and coaching staff.”
Stanford reached the NCAA tournament last spring, losing in the first round to Notre Dame. In June, the Cardinal hired Danielle Spencer, a three-time national champion at Northwestern, to coach women’s lacrosse.
Maddigan will join Sayville High School junior Erin Schaefer at Stanford. The two have been teammates with the Long Island Yellow Jackets travel team. Their first season at Stanford will be in spring 2021.
Amazingly, Maddigan is one of a dozen players on Bayport-Blue Point High School’s current roster committed to playing lacrosse at NCAA Division I programs.
“Bayport-Blue Point has an amazing youth program with dedicated parent volunteers.,” she said. “I started playing when I was about 4, in the backyard with my sisters. I eventually began playing in the youth program — from kindergarten to eighth grade.”
Maddigan said her dad and a family friend were her first coaches.
“They were both so positive and encouraging, and made it fun,” she said. “I have been lucky enough to have had so many amazing coaches and teammates. I have enjoyed and value the friendships I have made through this sport.
“My summers spent traveling with my parents to tournaments for lacrosse have been some of my happiest memories,” Maddigan continued. “Lacrosse has afforded me so many unbelievable opportunities.”
