Aly De La Noval Commits to Catawba for Lacrosse

Gabe Alvizures '25

Greenport High School senior, Aly De La Noval, has officially committed to continue her lacrosse career at Catawba College in North Carolina. De La Noval said, “The recruiting process is a crazy thing in itself, but ultimately, what made me decide to commit to Catawba was the homey atmosphere. The coach is so understanding and was very respectful towards my thoughts and how long I needed to take to decide whether or not I wanted to commit to the college.” 

Known for her exceptional skills on the field, De La Noval has been a standout athlete for the Greenport lacrosse team. She stated, “I'm always training to do the best that I can possibly do, so I do attend training usually weekly or bi-weekly, but it definitely helps me to build my agility, speed, and stickwork.” Her commitment to Catawba is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and passion for the sport.

Throughout her high school career, De La Noval has shown immense talent, contributing significantly to her team’s success. She noted, “My experience at Greenport has definitely helped me in the sense that I am able to learn how to balance all of my extracurricular activities with all my academics, as well as sports.” As a multi-sport athlete, she has not only excelled in lacrosse but also in other areas, demonstrating strong leadership and sportsmanship. De La Noval shared, “A few of my key mentors are definitely my coaches and teachers. 

For my coaches, my travel coach, Coach Paul, has definitely helped me so much with my recruiting journey and has allowed me to become truly the player I am today. Another one of my lacrosse coaches is Coach McGinn from Mattituck; he has helped me become a stronger player from the start of my high school career. Another coach who has definitely helped me so much is Coach Reed; she is my field hockey coach, and she has also led me to be the player that I am today and shown how commitment truly leads to great things. 

Finally, a teacher that has inspired me is Mrs. Charters. When it comes to academics or extracurriculars, she has given me a space to talk to her whenever I need help organizing my life, and I'm forever grateful for that.” Her ability to balance academics and athletics has made her a role model for her peers.

Catawba College, a Division II program, is known for its competitive lacrosse team, and De La Noval’s commitment marks an exciting new chapter in her athletic journey. “I think what excites me most is the fact that I'm going to be able to meet new people and play with a fresh new team and just make new records and break old ones. I believe that I will contribute to the team in a good way, and I will definitely put in as much work as possible to show that.” With her skills, work ethic, and positive attitude, she is expected to make a strong impact on the team and contribute to its continued success. “My long-term vision is to finish off my lacrosse career in college because ultimately what's going to get me far is my academics, so I have to take advantage of all the opportunities that Catawba is going to give me academically, but lacrosse is definitely a good backboard to get me through college.”

De La Noval’s journey from Greenport High School to Catawba College is a proud moment for her family, coaches, and the entire Greenport community. As she prepares to take her game to the next level, there’s no doubt that Aly will continue to shine on and off the field. “I plan to put in as much effort as possible, whether it comes to extra practice time or extra lift sessions. I plan to do as much as I possibly can to adjust smoothly and efficiently.”

A few words from Aly to young and up-and-coming athletes: “My advice to other young athletes would be to give yourself some grace. The recruiting process is very stressful in itself, so you have to allow yourself to realize that you have already accomplished so