Hampton midfielder Coholich receives US Lacrosse Jackie Pitts Award

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, June 28, 2018 | 11:39 PM

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Jocelyn Coholich capped her career on the Hampton girls lacrosse team with a prestigious honor.

Coholich, a senior midfielder, recently was named the recipient of the US Lacrosse Jackie Pitts Award for Western Pennsylvania.

Named after a pioneer in the development of girls and women's lacrosse, the award recognizes a graduating senior in each area who is an exceptional player and invested in the development of the game in her community.

A US Lacrosse spokesman said the organization divides the country into 73 geographic areas. A chairperson in each coordinates and administers awards.

Coholich, 18, believes by winning, she is following the right path.

“It means that listening to my heart does work, that doing what I am passionate about works,” she said. “It reminds me that I am always excited to connect with people and help influence the world with my efforts on and off the field.”

Coholich recorded 30 goals and eight assists for a Talbots squad that repeated as WPIAL Class AA champion this season. She holds the school record with 188 ground balls in her career.

Coach Kelsey Viets said Coholich, a two-year captain, is one of the highest academic achievers on the team. Her community service included tutoring people in chemistry and environmental science and organizing a blood drive.

Coholich also received area All-Academic recognition.

“Jocelyn is a truly special person,” Viets said. “I've had the opportunity to coach her for her entire middle school and high school careers.

“She's a player who will be irreplaceable.”

Coholich plans to play club lacrosse at Delaware and become a physician assistant.

Coholich is one of five Talbots to be honored.

Viets earned the area coach of the year award, senior attacker Rachel Hirst was named an All-American and junior defender Elizabeth Dolan and senior midfielder Rachel Mattson made all-academic.

Hirst, a Mercyhurst recruit, holds the Hampton record in career assists (76).

Mercyhurst coach Kevin Cooke is proud of Hirst.

“All-American honors are the highest awards for high school players,” he said. “To have a recruit (like that) coming into the Lakers program says a great deal.”

Viets said it is the most honors the Talbots have garnered in one season.

“To receive this amount of recognition from the community is so gratifying and reinforces the reason we put in so much work before and during the season,” she said.

Hampton senior defender Isaac Gallogly made boys high school all-academic.

Karen Kadilak is a freelance writer.

Tags: Hampton