SHO TIME: Shosi Henderson will be competing in the match this spring during the freshman season of the women’s lacrosse team at Pomona Pitzer College. Former Princeton High Star Henderson contributed significantly to Sagehens in her debut campaign, scoring 132 points with 42 goals and 90 assists for Pomona Pizzar to advance to 18-1 and advance to Sweet 16 of the 2022 NCAA Division III tournament. Did. In the process, Henderson broke the Sagehens points and assist single season record and the NCAA Division III season assist record. (Photo courtesy of Pomona-Pitzer College Athletics)
Bill Alden
Shoji Henderson didn’t know how much he could contribute to the women’s lacrosse team at Pomona Pizzar University during this spring’s freshman season.
“My goal was to be on the field. I wanted time to play,” said former Princeton High prominent Henderson. “I wanted to fit, I wanted to make a difference.”
Henderson scored two goals in the first 2:11 of the season’s opening match against Claremont-Mad-Sclips (CMS) on February 23, resulting in three goals and seven assists. Sagehens won 15-7.
“I’m a little crazy, this is my first college game,” said Henderson, a 5’7 attacker. “I’m pretty nervous about this, I’m starting. All I want to do is help as much as I can. I immediately had two fast break goals. It’s so much It’s fun. I experienced a hat-trick in the first quarter. It was a shock. The game opened my eyes. This could be a really good season not only for myself but also for the team. Unprecedented. Crushed the CMS. “
It’s a great season for both Henderson and Sagehens as she scored 132 points with 42 goals and 90 assists, helping the team advance to 18-1 and to Sweet 16 of the 2022 NCAA Division III tournament. I understand. In the process, Henderson broke the Sagehens points and assist single season record and the NCAA Division III season assist record.
Pomona-Pitzer continued to roll after the opener, but it wasn’t always a smooth ride.
“There were certainly ups and downs, and I suffered a few injuries,” Henderson said. “I was the only attacker who had never been injured and missed the match, so various players on the field were filling the spot. It wasn’t that important because of the depth. Definitely gained confidence. “
For Henderson, when she won 19-4 at Colorado College in early March, she gained significant confidence when she scored four goals and four assists.
“I was the most nervous I’ve ever been, because I was doing so well until then,” Henderson said. “First, it was snowing. It was really cold. It was the first match against a team that should be really good and I was very nervous in the first quarter. In the second quarter I have three goals and it’s going well. I ended up crushing them. For myself and the team, I think it was another boost for us. “
As the season progressed, Henderson overcame her nerves and It will be more and more comfortable for college games.
“It’s a much faster game, it has a shot clock that leads to it,” Henderson said.
“It’s also the amount of things to prepare for every game. We were more focused on ourselves than the other teams, but we have scouts in every game and make aggressive plans. That was something I had never done before. Go to this until you have 50 seconds left on your shot clock, then run this play. In 20 seconds you can start looking for something else. There was structure, but there was freedom. It was really, really fun. “
Henderson was initially torn between the DI and D-III programs when considering continuing his loose career at the next level, but Pomona emerged as the top choice.
“In the end, I felt Pomona was really, really fit,” Henderson said. “I emailed my coach (Sara Queener) and she’s probably one of the greatest people I’ve ever talked to. She’s a great coach and very much to me in the hiring process. I was excited. She showed a lot of pleasant interests. Immediately on campus, I loved everyone I met on the team. They became my best friends. “
Sagehens enjoyed an exciting playoff run, defeating rival CMS 15-11 in the University of Southern California Athletic Association (SCIAC) post-season tournament championship game and again surpassing Athena 16-8 in the second round of the NCAA tournament. rice field.
Henderson and her teammates weren’t excited to see their neighbor’s CMS next to the Pomona-Pitzer campus at the NCAA tournament, but they took care of the business.
“We defeated them three other times, once more we can do that,” Henderson said. “We’ve already beaten them three times, so we started thinking about how afraid they would have to play us again. It was a very hot day, so the first round of the previous day. Had to play in. They seemed to deflate. We burned out a gun. We wanted to go to Boston and play toughs. “
Sagehens, who suffered the only defeat of the season, fell to Jumbos, the third seeded in 18-10, and dug a 9-1 hole in the first quarter, which is too much to overcome. It turned out that.
“I had never actually met a team like Tufts,” Henderson said. “We really had ours. They really beat us only in the first quarter. We made them the second, third, and second. We tied it up in four quarters. Our season ended there, but that was another big boost. If we had acted together at the start of the game, we would have been there. “
At the end of the season, Henderson was greatly encouraged by being named the University of Southern California Athlete Conference (SCIAC) Athlete of the Year and honoring the First Team All West Region of the University of Southern California Lacrosse Coach Association (IWLCA). rice field.
“It was really special. To be honest, I couldn’t imagine it,” Henderson said. “I was confident in my abilities. I wanted to play and make an impact, but I never thought I would be at my level. I got those awards and these records. It’s very special to me to put it in. It also depends on how great the team was. Most of it is support and I can’t do it without how good the other players are. did.”
In Henderson’s view, her success was undoubtedly the product of the group’s efforts.
“At some point, we were leading the country with game-by-game assist, so that’s everyone,” Henderson said. “It was our team culture to play that way to move the ball. Everyone scores and everyone is involved. There are so many people who can be productive now. It’s very cool to put my name on the NCAA recordbook. “
Henderson is confident that Pomona Pizzar will continue to produce in the future.
“We have made great strides, and it really motivates us,” Henderson said. “Pomona is getting more and more attention. People want to come and we are getting better and better new hires. It’s very exciting.”
This summer, Henderson is focused on making progress both inside and outside the field.
“I want to work on driving to my goals. It’s fun to score, but that’s the way to create the best opportunity for others,” Henderson said. “I want to continue to be the leader of this team and work to keep the team culture really positive. That worked well this year. Some young players came in and lost four seniors. I’m definitely confident in the team next year. “
