BUTLER TWP — Julie Holt can blame her brother for getting her hooked on lacrosse.

The Butler High School graduate recently signed to play at Slippery Rock University and will receive a partial scholarship.

"My older brother, Bucky, played lacrosse for Butler and I went to a few of his games," said Holt. "I figured I'd give it a try, and, my first year, I fell in love with it.

"It taught me about teamwork and I made some good friends," she added.

Julie Holt began playing lacrosse her freshman year.

After two years on the junior varsity team, she played two seasons as the starting goalkeeper for the Golden Tornado varsity squad, averaging more than 20 saves per game in 2007, including a shutout.

"Julie's very aggressive and has quick hands," said Butler coach Annie Succop.

SRU women's lacrosse coach Stacey Hart echoed those sentiments, adding in an e-mailed interview that, "She will be a nice addition to the team."

Holt, who will major in health and physical education, also considered attending and playing lacrosse at Lock Haven University and St. Vincent College.

"Slippery Rock's closer to home and they gave me a bit more money," she said. "That's what made the difference."

The Rock competes in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and lost all 15 of its games this season, its first campaign as a varsity sport at SRU since 1991.

"We are returning our starting goalkeeper (sophomore Ashley Winkelspecht) next season," wrote Hart. "But the best goalkeeper plays. If Julie is the best, she will get time on the field.

"No starting spot on my team is ever guaranteed," Hart added. "Every practice is a chance to prove yourself."

Holt will have to make the adjustment to playing against college offenses.

"The speed of the game will be the biggest adjustment," wrote Hart. "The shots are faster and harder than she's used to."

Hart knows turning SRU into a competitive program won't happen overnight.

"We need to be realistic about our goals and expectations," she wrote. "It is expected, when you have a new program, it's going to take a few years to work things out. We compete in a conference that is one of the most competitive in Division II lacrosse, so it's important to understand that change will happen gradually as we all work toward our common goal."

Butler girls lacrosse is hoping to produce players to follow in Holt's footsteps and play in college.

"It's a huge step for us," said Succop. "It shows the other girls on the team that this could be possible for them and that our program is headed in the right direction."