Butler senior Delaney Brown will attend the University of Mount Union, where she will compete for the women’s lacrosse team. She is flanked by her parents, mother Lisa on the left and father Terry on the right.Derek Pyda/Butler Eagle

By Derek Pyda

Eagle Staff Writer

BUTLER TWP — Delaney Brown’s lacrosse career could have ended almost as soon as it began.

She signed up for the sport in sixth grade because a group of friends were getting involved.

“I was shy, wasn’t outgoing and I wanted to quit after a couple of weeks,” she said.

But Delaney’s father, Terry Brown, told her that she had potential and should stick with it.

“I’m so glad he didn’t allow me to give it up,” said Delaney, who is now a confident and very capable senior defender for Butler’s girls team. She is preparing to start for the Golden Tornado for the fourth straight year this spring and recently agreed to continue her academic and athletic careers at the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio.

“I visited the campus in August and as soon as I met the coaches, everything just felt right,” she said. “It’s a small school, but has a big-school feel because so many of the sports teams there compete at such a high level.”

Women’s lacrosse included. Emily Fisher is the only coach in the history of Mount Union’s program, which began in 2013. Under her guidance, the Purple Raiders have compiled a record of 128-18 with six Ohio Athletic Conference titles and six trips to the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Brown would love to earn playing time as a freshman, but knows she will be joining a very competitive program with a lot of great athletes.

“Everything’s going to be faster than what I’m used to,” said Brown, who plans to major in business or marketing. “I want to be pushed to become a better player and if that means sitting my freshman year, then so be it.

“It will be a new experience and I’m excited. I won’t have to worry about making new friends because I will be part of a team.”

Brown arrived to Butler’s varsity team in the spring of 2019 as a goalie.

“We needed someone to play on defense. I switched her and she did really well,” said Butler coach Bob Conklin. “She got a lot of good work in with her club team, Intrepid, and became our best defensive player last season.”

Brown has embraced the defensive role, which often goes unnoticed to the casual fan.

“I don’t score a lot of goals, but I take responsibility for my play,” she said. “When we give up a goal, I feel it’s partly my fault.”

Butler has not qualified for the WPIAL playoffs in several years. Conklin knows Brown will be in the middle of the Tornado’s drive to return to the postseason.

“Last year, we’d have a good first half, then lose steam,” he said. “We need to pick up the speed of our play and be better prepared to play a full game.”

Fisher could not be reached for comment.