Emma Reichert’s path to lacrosse wasn’t a typical one. She began her athletic career playing soccer but eventually fell out of love with the sport due to the club system. Still determined to compete in college, she decided to pick up lacrosse.
“Club soccer kind of ruined my love for the sport, and due to coaches and other factors, I decided I didn’t want to play soccer in college,” she said. “But I wanted to continue my dream of playing a sport in college.”
As she entered her freshman year, Emma joined the HSE lacrosse team and later participated in club lacrosse that summer. She immediately fell in love with the sport, reigniting her passion for athletics. Her club team played a critical role in her development, providing college exposure and fueling her dreams.
“I fell in love with lacrosse after my first summer season,” she said. “After that, I knew I wanted to play in college.”
Emma will continue her athletic and academic journey at Eastern Michigan University. While she is still deciding on a major, she is leaning toward nursing. She committed to EMU shortly after her junior year, while recovering from ACL surgery—an obstacle that revealed which programs truly supported her.
“Some schools stopped showing interest after they heard about my injury,” she said. “But the staff at EMU could not have cared less about it.”
Out of all the schools that showed interest, EMU stood out. The coaching staff and players welcomed her, creating an environment that felt like home.
“Eastern Michigan felt like home the second I met the team,” she said. “Their team chemistry was so strong, and everyone was incredibly welcoming.”
Since committing, Emma’s work ethic has only grown stronger. With college lacrosse on the horizon, she’s been training rigorously for Division I competition.
“I’ve been doing extra workouts, shooting practice, and learning the importance of recovery,” she said.
Emma feels prepared to take the next step, carrying forward the lessons and resilience she developed at HSE.
“Playing for the HSE team has taught me how to face challenges like coaching changes or switching positions,” she said. “The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to give 100 percent and control what I can control.”
