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2 Marjory Stoneman Douglas Girls Lacrosse Players Announce College Commitments 4

Patricia Phang and Aubrey Kasen. {MSD Lacrosse}

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas girls lacrosse program continues to develop elite student-athletes, as two Eagles have recently announced their commitments to play at the collegiate level.

Patricia Phang has committed to continuing her lacrosse career at Frostburg State University in Maryland, fulfilling a dream she has held since middle school.

“This has been my dream since eighth grade,” Phang said. “I knew that all the hard work—staying after school, doing wall ball every weekend, going to the park to shoot—would get me where I was supposed to be.”

Phang began playing lacrosse at just four years old and has competed for several club programs, including the Coral Springs Chiefs, Parkland Red Hawks, Chaos, Limitless 27, Lax Maniax Black 27, Florida Express 26/27, and Stealth. She was selected to represent the AOITH for the New Balance All-American team for two consecutive years and is also an Athletes Unlimited Futures lacrosse player. In addition, Phang was nominated to compete in the Highlighter All-Star Game at Tampa’s National Cup.

At MSD, Phang has spent the past two seasons on the varsity roster. As a freshman, she recorded 15 goals, followed by 27 goals as a sophomore. Over her two varsity seasons, she has also totaled 13 assists. During both years, the Eagles advanced to the regional round.

When searching for a college, Phang said Frostburg State immediately felt like a “home away from home.” She was drawn to the university’s campus, academics, and coaching staff.

“They dedicate their lives to the team,” Phang said. “They do team bonding and even mental health days where they check in on you and make sure you’re doing okay. Knowing I could always go to them made me feel like I’d have a supportive family, even though they’re my coaches.”

Looking ahead, Phang’s main goals include improving her field awareness, cutting more effectively inside the eight-meter arc, increasing her strength, and continuing to develop her speed and footwork.

Aubrey Kasen has committed to Rollins College, calling the moment a dream come true.

“Committing to college was a huge sigh of relief,” Kasen said. “No more endless fall and summer seasons with practices every day of the week. It does make me sad knowing I won’t be playing alongside my travel team forever.”

Kasen began playing lacrosse at age 10 with the Parkland Red Hawks before joining Florida Select, a travel team based in the Boca Raton/Delray area that currently ranks fifth in the nation. As a freshman at MSD, Kasen saw limited scoring time, finishing with three goals, but she made a significant jump this past season.

She closed the year with 37 goals and seven assists while primarily playing midfield and defense. Kasen was also a major presence in the face-off circle and known for her hustle, recording 85 ground balls during the season.

One of the biggest factors in her decision to attend Rollins was the coaching staff.

“The coaches are the kind of people who change your life when you meet them,” Kasen said. She is also excited to play close to home, with family nearby. “It’s amazing knowing your biggest fans live 20 minutes away.”

With two years remaining before college, Kasen said her main focus is strengthening her mental game.

“I feel like that’s what has held me back from taking the next step,” she said. “By the time I get to college, I want to be the best version of myself.”

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Matt Rothman

Matt Rothman is a 2018 graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University receiving his bachelor’s degree in journalism and then graduated from the University of Florida as a graduate student. He also works for the Mohave Valley Daily News in Bullhead City, Arizona covering high school sports.