Bridgewater College senior Jacqueline DiFulvio writes about her decision to play two sports and her experience as a student-athlete during her four years as an Eagle.
BRIDGEWATER, Va. - I committed to be an Eagle in the winter of my senior year of high school. My passion and goal of playing collegiate level lacrosse had been achieved. I was happy, my family was proud, and my new family welcomed me with open arms.
Not very long after, I was presented with a new question: did I want to be a dual-sport athlete? I had put so much time and energy into pursuing my lacrosse dreams that I had not thought about the possibility of playing field hockey too. So, I took the leap to commit to both teams.
And I have not looked back once.
I know it is cheesy to say, but Bridgewater really became my home away from home. Both teams provided me with wonderful support systems, and I owe it to them for molding me into the person I am today. I have laughed with my teammates, cried with them, celebrated and rejoiced. Every athlete knows their time is limited, so I strived to cherish every moment I had being an Eagle. To say I am proud to be a Bridgewater athlete is an understatement.
One of the proudest moments of my career at Bridgewater was during my senior field hockey season when we played Lynchburg, who was nationally ranked at the time. That game was senior day for me and my fellow seniors and the whole team knew that we had a tough game ahead of us. But walking into the decorated locker room erased the nerves and worries about the game. Seeing my team all gathered together, streamers and balloons everywhere, everyone smiling and happy to celebrate their teammates; that is a moment I will never forget. And the team played their hearts out that game. We took a nationally-ranked team into shoot-outs. SHOOT-OUTS! I knew that we were a good team, but that game truly showed that we were a great team who was also family.
My next proudest moment? Seeing the lacrosse team rally together to win in overtime against Sewanee this spring. That game will go down in my mind as the best-played game of lacrosse I have ever had the pleasure to be a part of. Everyone came together and gave it their all to ensure we came out with the victory. And that was the mindset: winning was the only option. Celebrating with my teammates after the winning goal was a rush of adrenaline I will never be able to replicate. We all ran together, screaming at the top of our lungs, like we won a national championship. But for us, it was that significant, because it was the first time we truly came together and played like the team we knew we could be.
Bridgewater athletics has surrounded me with some of the strongest women I will have the pleasure of knowing during my life. I have been pushed to my limits and challenged to overcome multiple obstacles, but I always had my teams by my side through it all. Two sports, four years, six ODAC tournament appearances, eight seasons, and countless memories that will remain with me long past my time at Bridgewater. And I can confidently say that Bridgewater has given me more than I could ever ask for. Once an Eagle, always an Eagle.
