US STAR CRISTA SAMARAS ARRIVES FOR COACHING CLINICS
AMERICAN World Cup star Crista Samaras arrives in England
today as part of a fortnight long trip to coach lacrosse to
youngsters and seniors in this country.
Midfielder Samaras is one of the best women players in the
world game and recently starred for her country at the IFWLA
World Cup in her hometown of Annapolis.
The US won a silver medal, beaten by Australia in the final,
but Samaras was one of the team's stand-out players in the
ten-day long tournament.
She played two games against the England women's team and
is relishing the chance to pass off her wealth of knowledge
to youngsters and seniors in this country.
Crista will be joined by one of her sisters, Stephy, on September
13, who is also here to coach lacrosse.
Today (Friday, September 9) will see Crista coach Stockport
ladies and guest players from around the North West, a coaching
clinic which lasts for three days.
Following that clinic Crista will stay until September 25th
to offer coaching and will teach at schools in the south and
also more clinics in the north.
This year's special camps have been organised through Keith
Wainer at UK Lacrosse, working closely with Warrior Lacrosse
who Crista is sponsored by.
For more information about the camps or how to get involved
call Keith on 07810 867373.
September schedule
9-11 Stockport Ladies + guests
12 Stockport juniors
17 Team Wales - Herts University
18 Girls camp - Malvern Girls/ Malvern Girls College/ Alice
Ottley
21 Coaching Conference - Berkhamsted
23 Withington Girls School
24 Stockport (to be confirmed)
25 Timperley
Crista Samaras
Midfield
Princeton '99
Hometown: Annapolis, Md.
High School: Annapolis High School
Height: 5'7"
Honours
• 3-time All-American
• 2-time Ivy League Player of the Year (1998, 1999)
• 1999 team captain at Princeton
National Team Experience
> 2005 IFWLA Silver Medallist
• 2001 IFWLA Gold Medallist
• 2001 U.S. Women's National Team - IFWLA World Champions
• 2001-2005 U.S. Women's Elite Team
• 1995 U.S. Women's Developmental Team
Coaching
She was an assistant coach at Yale University in 2000 and
2001, and Head Coach at New York's Trinity High School in
2002. Head Coach of Xteam.
At Princeton: Samaras, one of the most decorated players
to ever play at Princeton, played on four NCAA Tournament
teams at PU (1995-96, 1998-99). The 1995 team made it to the
title game before losing to Maryland. . . . she graduated
PU as the all-time leader in assists (81), goals (189) and
points (270) . . . . she was the first lacrosse player (man
or woman) at Princeton to score 50 goals in a season (51 goals
in 1996). . . . was selected three times to the All-Ivy League
First Team. . . . named Ivy League Player of the Year twice
(1998, 1999). . . . named Ivy League Rookie of the Year in
1995.
More About Crista
Birthday: November 16, 1976
Profession: Actress/Writer/Entrepreneur
Major: Politics
Hobbies: Fashion, guitar, sewing, theatre, flying planes
Pets: Two cats (Kitty and Other)
Siblings: Two brothers (Dean, Drew) and three sisters (Cory,
Staci and Stephy)
When did you start playing lacrosse: 1st grade
Interesting fact: All five of Crista's siblings played defense
on college lacrosse teams. Crista is the only attack/midfield
player
5 Questions With Crista
Q: What is the most important lesson you have learned from
being a female athlete in today’s world?
A: It is more awesome to be strong than skinny, more fun to
eat than starve, more exciting to play than sit, more fulfilling
to live than sleep, more powerful to be smart than dumb and
more empowering to risk than wait. Sports are the microcosm
of life – honest, hard and rewarding.
Q: What advice would you give girls who are contemplating
playing lacrosse?
A: If you love it, do it. If it makes you feel proud of yourself,
DO IT! Whatever you love and whatever makes you feel proud
– pursue that. If it’s lacrosse, great. If it’s
bowling or basket weaving, go after it, girl!
Q: Who is your greatest role model?
A: Oprah Winfrey because she has accumulated enough power
to affect large scale movements; her projects and successes
are varied and she celebrates – to a massive degree
– the spirit of the entrepreneur. She is innovative
and anticipatory in her ventures and has accrued a relevant
appeal to the national conscience.
Q: Do you have a favourite World Cup moment on or
off the field?
A: Best off the field – trying to teach Kelly Amonte
Hiller to dance during our training camp in England (it was
caught on tape by Bonnie Rosen)!
Q: Which is your favourite country to play against?
A: Japan. They are so electric and at the same time, resolved.
They love the sport and are determined to get better.
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