Nothing but net: Women’s soccer goalie joins lacrosse team to fill injury void

Soccer was Kylie Ginsberg’s number one priority throughout high school.

She was a highly-touted goalkeeper at Greenwich High School and knew soccer was what she wanted to pursue in college. In her sophomore year at Greenwich, Ginsberg’s friends convinced her to spend her spring as the goalie on the lacrosse team.

Now a sophomore at Lehigh, Ginsberg has found herself back in goal for the women’s soccer and lacrosse programs at Lehigh.

After a concussion sidelined lacrosse goalie Elizabeth Nussbaum, the Lehigh women’s lacrosse team needed a healthy goalie to backup starting goalie Taylor Tvedt. It was Tvedt who recruited Ginsberg to join the team.

After Nussbaum’s injury, Tvedt was informed the team was going to have a freshman serve as an emergency goalie. In hopes of avoiding that, Tvedt asked around and sophomore Lidia Breen, one of Ginsberg’s soccer teammates, told Tvedt that Ginsberg had experience as a lacrosse goalie in high school.

From there, Tvedt went straight to coach Jill Redfern and her coaching staff with the idea of adding Ginsberg to the roster. Redfern approached coach Eric Lambinus, the women’s soccer coach, about the possibility of Ginsberg joining the lacrosse team for the spring.

“Coach Lambinus was very supportive of allowing Kylie (Ginsberg) to help us out for the remainder of the season, so we are thankful for that flexibility,” Redfern said.

Once Lambinus gave the okay, Ginsberg was called into the office to discuss the idea of her joining the team for the rest of the spring.

“At first, I didn’t really know what to say,” Ginsberg said. “I loved lacrosse in high school and was excited to have the opportunity again, but I also was a little nervous, knowing it has been a while.”

Ginsberg accepted the offer to play lacrosse and has been with the team since. After being away from lacrosse for so long, she has been working closely with Tvedt to get back into the swing of things.

“I really appreciate Kylie (Ginsberg) joining our team, so I am trying to do whatever I can to make her feel welcome and to have fun,” Tvedt said. “She already has good goalie reflexes, so for her it’s just about getting a refresher on her form and crease positioning.”

They work together doing drills throughout practice and get in extra work on the side. Tvedt said she tries to give Ginsberg any tips she has while watching her play. Ginsberg said she is appreciative of everything Tvedt has done for her since joining the team.

“I’m definitely still getting used to some techniques, but (Tvedt) has been so patient and willing to help me learn and adjust,” Ginsberg said.

Both sports require quickness and good reflexes. In lacrosse, Ginsberg believes there’s a much greater emphasis on those reflexes, while in soccer you must cover a greater area while dealing with corners and free kicks.

Ginsberg’s personality fits in with the rest of the women’s lacrosse team. Redfern said she’s noticed the team-first mentality Ginsberg brings to the team.

Though she is primarily with the lacrosse program since they are in-season, Ginsberg makes it to soccer practices whenever she can. Her soccer teammates have been supportive throughout the process. On top of balancing two Division I sports, Ginsberg is studying bio-engineering and is also a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. Lacrosse has not made her life easier, but Ginsberg said she is balancing things well and hasn’t let the addition to her schedule affect her schoolwork.

“I love being a part of all these things, but school always will be my number one priority,” Ginsberg said.

As far as her future with the lacrosse team, Ginsberg is taking that day by day and is focusing on getting back into lacrosse mode.

“It is such a cool opportunity and I’m glad I have the chance to play again,” Ginsberg said. “I can’t wait to see how far we can go this season.”