Lower Merion midfielder Kiersten Daly is Main Line Girls' Athlete of the Week

By Bruce Adams
BAdams@mainlinemedianews.com

Daly, a senior midfielder and co-captain for the Lower Merion girls’ lacrosse team, scored the 100th goal of her career recently. She was second team All-Central League and second team All-Main Line last year, when she scored 59 goals and won 30 draw controls in 18 games. Her twin brother, Chris, also plays lacrosse for Lower Merion and was a second team All-Main Line pick last spring. A three-sports athlete and a tenacious competitor, she battled back from a torn meniscus suffered during the soccer season to make a strong contribution to the Aces’ basketball squad last winter. She will be attending Shippensburg University next fall and plans to study nursing.

Main Line Media News (MLMN): Can you describe for us the play in the season opener that led to your 100th career goal ?

Kiersten Daly: We were running our motion offense. Our coaches called out a play designed to score and on my cut through the 8. We were set up on the right side of the goal with a feeder on the left side. We were cutting though the arc and I happened to be open. Abby Goldstein fed me a perfect pass and I had a wide-open lane to goal – I placed it bottom right (goalies’ left side) and it went in.

MLMN: Did you know at the time you scored that it was your 100th goal?

Daly: At the start of preseason Coach [Erika] Baylis sent me my stats. I knew it that I had an opportunity to reach 100 goals in the first or second game. After I scored my fourth goal of the game, I knew I was close but I just kept it to myself. After my fifth goal, Coach called a timeout. I thought it was bizarre because we had a comfortable lead. During the timeout, Coach told the team that my next goal would be my 100th goal. Everyone now knew and helped me reach this milestone.

MLMN: What, to you, is the biggest key to being a consistent goal scorer?

Daly: I think for anyone who is going to be a consistent goal scorer they have to have an offensive mindset and be willing to take on any challenges your defender gives you. Players who are consistent goal scorers are determined to make the play. They are players who are depended upon to score and know that the first option you should look for is to take the ball to the goal. If the lane is not available, a pass and recut may be open the second time. And there is also the option of the second cutter being open because of the work I did off the ball.

MLMN: Tell us a little about your rehab from the torn meniscus you suffered in the fourth game of the soccer season last fall. What was the greatest challenge in your rehab?

Daly: When I got hurt in early season of soccer, I thought that my senior year of sports was lost. My attitude was “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.” I’ve known several girls that have torn their ACL’s. I knew I was in for a long recovery after surgery. Luckily for me on the day of my surgery I received the best news. Although I did tear my meniscus and needed repair, my MCL and ACL were intact and didn’t need to be replaced. There was a strain to each, and would need to do intense rehab several days a week for three months, but not the 9-12 months that others have done. My greatest challenges were regaining my strength in my knee and my confidence that I would be able to play – not playing with fear that I could get hurt again, and that I could move side to side, front to back.

MLMN: What has been the most important thing you have learned about lacrosse through your twin brother Chris?

Daly: When we were little we would always have a catch in the yard. We would work on passing. I found that balls he was throwing seemed to be close to my face. Not intentionally, but that I helped me catch the ball because my only options were to catch or get hit in the face. As we got older, I learned from him watching him play in different games and tournament. His movement off the ball, his ability to get free and his desire to score made me realize I should probably do the same. His determination to be the best has really rubbed off and taught me many things.

MLMN: What are your favorite activities outside of Lower Merion?

Daly: Along with hanging out with my friends, I work at Lacrosse Unlimited in Ardmore.
MLMN: What is your favorite food?

Daly: Sushi.