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Sayville’s Erin Schaefer commits to play lacrosse at Stanford

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Thankful, proud and relieved.

It’s all part of the wave of emotions that Sayville teen Erin Schaefer is experiencing after committing this week to play lacrosse at Stanford University.

“I am proud and relieved that all the time and effort I have put into the classroom and on the field has finally paid off,” the Sayville High School junior told GreaterSayville.com.

“After stepping on campus, meeting the coach staff and seeing what Stanford has to offer a student-athlete, I knew the school was the perfect fit for me,” Erin, 16, added. “Lacrosse has given me so many opportunities that I am extremely thankful for.”

Sayville High School junior Erin Schaefer.

Erin, a starter on Sayville’s varsity lacrosse team since seventh grade, will join a successful program that has reached the NCAA Tournament eight times in the last 10 seasons. Stanford finished the 2019 season 13-6, losing to Notre Dame in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

For Erin, Stanford’s academic reputation is just as important. Every eligible player on Stanford — which is among the world’s leading teaching and research institutions — was selected to the Pac-12 All-Academic team.

“I have countless reasons why I chose to commit to play lacrosse at Stanford. For starters, it is one of the top academic schools in the country,” said Erin, who as a sophomore midfielder last spring scored 22 goals and had 45 assists for the Golden Flashes.

Erin, who began playing lacrosse in third grade with her dad Tom as coach, was recruited by first-year Stanford Coach Danielle Spencer. The Northwestern graduate earned Ivy League Coach of the Year honors in two of her three seasons at Dartmouth. As a player, she was part of three national championship teams at Northwestern — 2007, 2008 and 2009.

“I truly believe in Coach Spencer’s vision for the future of the program, and I want to be part of the winning culture that she brings to the team as the new head coach,” said Erin, whose older sister Madeline plays lacrosse at LIU Post.

Erin (Instagram), her dad (Facebook) and her travel team coach Carol Rose (Twitter) all announced the good news this week on social media.

Stanford’s current roster includes a bevy of players from high schools on the East Coast, including two freshmen from Long Island.

With two high school lacrosse seasons still left to play, Erin has already piled up a slew of accolades in her favorite sport.

This year, after earning All County honors as a sophomore, Erin was selected to the U.S. National Team Development Program, and attended the U.S. Lacrosse National Combine with hopes of making the final roster for the U17 U.S. National team.

In 2018, Erin was picked for a second-straight year to play in the Under Armour All American tournament, representing team Long Island. She was an Inside Lacrosse featured standout performer and listed in their 2021 Young Guns.

Inside Lacrosse described Schaefer as a hustling midfielder “with uncanny field awareness and the ability to transition the ball very quickly.”

Click here to see Erin in action.

Erin Schaefer, a Sayville High School junior, committed to play lacrosse at Stanford.

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