After playing goalie for five years on both town and club teams, Walpole High School senior Laura Giovaniello has committed to Bridgewater State University to play Division III lacrosse while majoring in criminal justice. 

“I got recruited by Bridgewater State by reaching out to the head coach before my regular visit on campus during my junior year,” Giovaniello said. “She decided to come to one of the regular-season games for Walpole and then again in the summer she came to my [club] lacrosse games.”

Giovaniello believes playing for Laxachusetts, one of the top club teams for athletes in Massachusetts, helped her get recruited as well. Laxachusetts offers boys and girls club teams and skills training programs. The coaches and staff at Laxachusetts have played lacrosse at many different levels and have years of experience in both playing and coaching the sport. However, Giovaniello gives the Walpole High program just as much credit for her success because of her supportive coaches and teammates. 

 “I’ve been so lucky to play with so many great players in Walpole that motivated me to work hard and be with coaches that spoke very highly of me with the college staff,” Giovaniello said.

In addition to playing varsity lacrosse all four years, Giovaniello also played both volleyball and basketball at Walpole High. 

“I originally wanted to play basketball in college and I never thought I would play lacrosse until my coaches kept telling me that I should with the talent I have,” Giovaniello said. 

Mike Tosone and Tim Drummey coached Giovaniello throughout her four years on the varsity team. She was initially the backup goalie as a freshman, but by sophomore year, she became the starting goalie and held that position for the rest of her high school career. 

“[Giovaniello] is among the most conscientious and hardest working athletes I have ever coached. She was good from the beginning, and because of her work ethic, continued to improve all throughout her varsity career,” Tosone said. 

Because Bridgewater State was her first choice, Giovaniello is excited to work hard and impress her coaches. She hopes to eventually make it to the playoffs and build up a save percentage of 70 percent or higher. She is also looking forward to bonding with her new team and being surrounded by other girls who share her love for lacrosse. 

“My athletic career at Walpole High School is one that I will cherish with me for the rest of my life. Through the relationships I’ve made by being on teams have made it unforgettable. Being in such a successful and talented sports town has also made it a lot more fun,” Giovaniello said.