Fuller finds home
ADAMS TWP — When Mara Fuller plays club lacrosse, the rules are more lax.
And Fuller can put her 5-foot-9 frame and strength to better use as a defender on the lacrosse field.
High school season is a different story.
The game is called tighter. Contact all but legislated off the field.
It takes Fuller some time to adjust.
“I get called for stuff left and right,” Fuller said, chuckling. “It's frustrating sometimes.”
Fuller, a Mars senior, is looking forward to the more free-wheeling days of college lacrosse and she'll be doing it at Kent State University.
Fuller signed her national letter of intent to join the Division I program Monday.
“I can't wait to play a full college game,” Fuller said. “The rules are a lot different. There's more free movement and you can be a little more aggressive. It's a lot faster and a lot more physical. Lacrosse is still very new in this area. In other states, things are a little more lenient.”
For now, Fuller will have to rein in her instincts for another lacrosse season.
Fuller, though, plays midfield for Mars and has scored more than 100 career goals.
At Kent State, she will play defense, which is a more thankless position than the one she has excelled in at Mars.
Goal-scorers get the ink. Defenders, though, get wins.
“I consider it one of the hardest positions,” Fuller said. “The goalie and the rest of your team is relying on you to stop the other team from scoring. You're playing against smaller players who are fast, so you have to have good footwork. You have to communicate with your teammates and all be on the same page. It's a lot to worry about.”
But Fuller enjoys the challenge.
She also enjoys the challenge of joining a lacrosse program at Kent State that is just starting.
The Golden Flashes are only beginning their third season and went 2-15 last year.
“Most girls don't want to go to a new program,” Fuller said. “I'm close with (Kent State coach Brianne Tierney). I'm just excited to be going there.
“Hopefully we'll be setting new records and make it as far was we can. Hopefully we can win championships.”
Academics also played a factor. Fuller wants to major in communications and Kent State has one of the best programs in the country.
Fuller made many college visits and several to Kent State.
“It felt like home,” Fuller said. “I knew that's where I wanted to be.”
