Junior Rachael Becker excels for lacrosse and field hockey teams

Rachael Quinn Becker, a junior from Broomall, PA, is the leading defender on the top-ranked women's lacrosse team, with the highest number of turnovers caused and groundballs. In addition, Becker is a key offensive player on Princeton's field hockey team, which won the Ivy League title in the fall with a smashing 7-0 record.

Becker paved her way to becoming the two-sport athlete she is today in seventh grade, when on a whim she picked up lacrosse and field hockey for the first time.

At Marple Newtown High School in Pennsylvania, she began to excel at the sports she began in junior high, picking up numerous awards including Delaware County Female Athlete of the Year. In addition, Becker was named honorable mention All-America in lacrosse as a senior after leading Marple Newtown to an undefeated Central League championship.

Although Becker was recruited by Princeton to play lacrosse, she could not give up her other love — field hockey. She contacted field hockey head coach Beth Bozman and, after attending pre-season before her freshman year, found herself on both teams.

At Princeton, Becker has done more than just play two varsity sports — she has excelled in both. In field hockey, she received an All-Ivy honorable mention and second-team regional All-America honors.

"Rachael was our 'sixth man' last year," Bozman said of Becker. "She provided the spark we needed. She understands the game and understands what it takes to be a national champion — she pushes this team everyday to achieve that."

In lacrosse, Becker is a first-team All-America selection, a first-team regional All-America selection and a unanimous first-team All-Ivy selection. To top it off, she was named to the NCAA All-Tourn-ament team.

Last year was Becker's breakout season. She lead the Tigers in turnovers caused with 32, was third in ground balls with 45, controlled 14 draws and started in all 19 of the Tigers' games, logging 1,069 minutes of play — one less than the Tiger ranked first in that category. This year, Becker again leads the team in turnovers caused and ground balls.

As in most sports, high-scoring offenders often get the glory, but Becker's contribution on the defensive end has been vital to the Tigers' success. Her role on the field is to be aggressive and vocal, qualities that make her a leader both by example and by word of mouth.

"Rachael is the consummate competitor," lacrosse head coach Chris Sailer said. "She loves to be challenged and to draw the tough marking assignments."

Evidence of Becker's competitive spirit is the fact that in every game she draws the top-line attackers, and almost always holds her mark to very few points. Furthermore, her instincts, timing and quick hands combine to make her an excellent stick checker.

Given the similarities between field hockey and lacrosse, it may seem natural that an athlete good at one would excel in the other. What is striking in Becker's case is that she plays defense in one and offense in the other.

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"In field hockey," Sailer said, "she's seems to have a nose for the goal, but in lacrosse she's more focused on keeping her opponent away from the goal than from going to the goal herself."

Becker herself has discovered that playing defense in lacrosse and offense in field hockey confers a special advantage that only a two-sport, or rather two-position, athlete can have.

"I can put myself in the opponent's head and anticipate what they are thinking," Becker said.

The ability to put herself in the opponent's head is an aspect of the game that Becker loves.

"She's really motivated by the challenge of one-on-one defense — Rachael versus her opponent," Sailer said.

But there is one other aspect of lacrosse that Becker loves even more — the team.

"If the team wasn't so close," she said, "lacrosse wouldn't be nearly as fun. It is great to compete for a national championship with people you truly care about and respect."