SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior Maggie Anderson has committed to play lacrosse at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio and will participate in the Signing Day Celebration on April 13.

“The reason I want to play college lacrosse is because I love the game,” said Anderson. “I started playing when I was 10 to annoy my older brother and I fell in love with the sport. There is something I found with lacrosse that I didn’t find in soccer or any other sport or activity. There was just something I loved about it and connected to.”

Anderson has played for the Troubadours all four seasons and is a three-year varsity letter winner. She has scored 42 career goals and recorded 15 assists over 46 career games.

“For me, the most important thing with lacrosse is the team, the team environment and spending time with girls on and off the field that you trust 100 percent,” said Anderson. “I knew I wanted to play collegiate lacrosse for that reason.”

Anderson found the perfect fit in the Cavalier program under the direction of Head Coach Christy Mitchell.

“I connected immediately with Coach Mitchell,” said Anderson. “I felt she was someone I could trust, respected and would love to play for. When I got to the school (on my visit), it was the same way with the team. Everyone was incredibly friendly. The team took me under their wing and they were really real. It felt like a family and it was something I wanted to be part of.”

Mitchell is in her fourth season coaching the team. Walsh is a Division II Catholic school that plays in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Anderson, who plans to study graphic design, was attracted to the school on many fronts. The school sees its purpose, according to the school mission statement, focuses on the advancement of knowledge fostered through student-faculty interaction and its six core values: hospitality, service; respect for self; for others and word within which we live; integrity; an ethical approach to life; and excellence in the teaching-learning process.

“Walsh offers me a lot…The school is incredible academically,” said Anderson. “They do a lot of internships and being an art major it is great to have access to internships and what the school offers. They help you find the program or place you want to go (to get experience).”

Anderson plans to get into illustration or animation and a perfect job would be to work for Disney.

“Education is so much more than what takes place in the classroom and Walsh was really attractive because the opportunities if offered on and off the field,” said Anderson.

To that point, Anderson has accepted a scholarship into the Blouin Global Scholar Program, a program that provides students with a unique opportunity to become part of a community of students and faculty dedicated to using scholarship and service to address major global issues.

“I have always been interested in service and it is something that I am passionate about,” said Anderson. “It is great to go to a school that sees the value in it and actively lets its students have those opportunities.”

The program includes participation in two Global Learning opportunities: one in Africa, and a capstone experience at Walsh’s Rome campus.

Anderson has loved her sports experience at St Francis. Entering the school as a home-schooled student, she had not played sports as a representative of a school just her club.

“To be honest playing sports and being affiliated with a school is weird for me,” said Anderson. “It is nice to know you have everyone at school behind you. Sports have been not just about developing on the field but off the field as well. It is really cool to be part of something.”

Anderson and her teammates play four of their last seven regular season games at home at Mather Sports Complex in the stretch run up to playoffs.

“My goal is to beat Granite Bay,” said Anderson about two remaining games with the Grizzlies. “We have talked about it as a team. There is a lot that goes into it. We have to work hard because they are not an easy team to beat. We have to hold each other accountable and communicate better.”

Anderson will participate in the College Commitment Celebration on April 13 at 9 a.m.