Celie Shield, a first-year member of the University of Rhode Island lacrosse team, has made herself feel at home both on and off the field.
Shield, growing up in Richmond, Va., was recruited by URI head coach Jenna Slowey, who has close ties to Shield back when she was an assistant coach at the University of Richmond.
“I gave lessons to Celie when she was in middle school,” Slowey said. “ I have known her for quite some time, but her recruiting process was different because she tore her ACL, so not a lot of people had eyes on her.”
Despite her injury, Shield was still recruited by Slowey to play at Rhode Island and join the program in its second season ever.
“She wasn’t fully healed when we started recruiting her,” Slowey said. “I am super happy she is here and has been able to make an impact as a freshman.”
Arriving at URI, Shield credited the team’s culture that made her feel like she fit right in.
“Everyone was eager to meet me and be my friend,” Shield said. “Captain Kyndall [Jackson], Caitlin [Dellecave] and MJ [Timpanaro] were really good examples for me if I needed anything.”
After recovering from her ACL tear, Shield found her stride, winning Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week on March 30, two days after a big game against Duquesne University, where she had four points on three goals and one assist.
“To me it’s been really exciting,” Shield said. “I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to play my freshman year, so it has made me proud of myself to overcome being scared and being able to show that I can adapt.”
Shield has taken strides since the beginning of the season, according to Slowey.
“There was a lot of pressure and a lot of newness coming in as a freshman to a new program, and I think she struggled with that earlier in the season,” Slowey said. “She’s really coming around to her own now, so a lot of growth towards the end of the year.”
For Shield, her first season came to an end with a 14-9 loss to Saint Joseph’s University on Saturday, but that didn’t take away all the hard work that Shield put in and the bonds she has made throughout year one.
“Playing with my best friends has been my favorite part,” Shield said. “Sometimes in practice we have to run, condition and all, but I’m playing with my best friends, and they’re people I get to hang out with all the time, so I’m lucky to have a team like that.”
Shield will look to continue to grow and get better as she enters the offseason with Rhode Island after missing the playoffs for the second time in the team’s two seasons at the Division I level.
