If you want to tell her anything, go ahead and tell her she plays like a girl. For freshman attack Sam Schrum, this can only be taken as a compliment.
Schrum's been playing with the boys ever since she was young. She played a variety of sports in elementary and middle school. Only in high school did she finally settle to focus on lacrosse. "Actually soccer was my favorite sport," she said. "Once I got to high school, I was like, `Oh, I'm better at lacrosse.' I just stuck with it." And though she might have played better than the boys -- "I was always a little tomboy" --- she's always known that her real power lies in herself and her girlfriends.
These friends include her two sisters and mother, who Schrum said have supported her more than anyone else throughout her career. Her older sister, Naria, currently plays lacrosse for Frostburg State in Maryland. This example led Schrum to start thinking about playing college ball. Schrum, it seems, has had a similar affect on her younger sister, Megan. This sophomore in high school has already committed to play for the Blue Jays in 2009.
Schrum keeps her family close in heart and close to home. The Schrums live in a suburb outside of Baltimore. Now that she's moved to Hopkins, Schrum's found that she's actually become closer with her sisters, especially Naria. "When we get together, we're very compatible. We'll go out together a lot. It's easier for me to relate to her." As for her younger sister, Schrum said, "As Megan's getting older, we're getting closer too. I'll go watch her games and try to see her for a bit." Together, the three "just aren't typical sisters that fight." Schrum's mother has also nurtured her lacrosse career. In high school, Schrum and her mother would travel almost every weekend to travel lacrosse tournaments with current teammate Brett Bathras and her mother. "We would travel everywhere together. It was that whole mother-daughter thing."
Schrum's getting used to traveling with more than just Bathras and their moms, though. Now that she's a Blue Jay, Schrum couldn't be happier about extending her lacrosse family to include her teammates and coaching staff here at Hopkins. When deciding to come here over Loyola, she said, "What set me over the edge was the coaching staff." And since then, she's only gotten more comfortable in the Blue Jay nest. "Once regular season started, I really clicked with all the girls. My teammates have been nothing but helpful with the transition from high school to college."
Apparently, Schrum's willing to help out her teammates as well. "I try to be a support player. If I don't score, I'm not mad about it. I'm content with creating space for my teammates or assisting." On Saturday's game again st Virginia, Schrum had an unusual game without any goals. She didn't seem bothered by this at all; rather, she even said the victory was the highlight of her season thus far. "I was just so content with how the team played so well. I didn't want to go score just to improve my own personal stats."
Not to say that her statistics need much improvement. Currently, Schrum has scored 19 goals in only 13 games. She's also ranked second on the team for points (26) and assists (7). She's started in every game, the lone freshman playing attack alongside three senior Blue Jays. "She's had a breakout freshman season. I'm so excited to see what she can do for us over the next four years," teammate Erin O'Boyle said. The popular magazine Inside Lacrosse is also eager to see Schrum's future. Along with freshmen Bathras and Angela Hughes, Schrum's name fell under "Players to Watch."
"At first, I wasn't sure what was going to happen. I was never sure how much playing time I would get," she admitted. "I guess it just fell into place for me." Her secret? "I just work hard and do my best."
Schrum carries this matter-of-fact attitude on and off the field. "I'm very comfortable in my own skin. I don't try to be somebody that I'm not. I'm who I am, and I don't really care what people think about me." Perhaps this is what caught the eye of Schrum's current romantic interest, sophomore men's lacrosse player Matt Drenan. "She's definitely a type-A personality," Drenan said. "She's an individual."
Though some girls may be intimidated to date an older Hopkins men's lacrosse star, the individualist shrugs it off like no big deal. "Our relationship is very mutual," she said. "Sometimes we fight c9 but I usually win." And though she claims she's "no typical girly-girl," she admits to a few weaknesses. One of which she and Drenan share on weekday mornings.
"Little Mermaid cartoons. We like to watch those together."
And like the little mermaid, Schrum values her many sisters above anything else. "Having my teammates is like having 20 other sisters. My favorite thing about the sport is just being a part of a group of girls who love the sport as much as I do."
