Published: November 19, 2008 12:17 am            

Making the leap

Bears’ Cain first area lacrosse player to sign with college

FAIRMONT — While the potential was immense, some might say limitless, the initial goals for Fairmont Senior’s girls lacrosse program were quite humble.

Learn the game. Play hard. Be a little bit better today than you were yesterday.

The message, tough, along with the sport, caught on quickly. The Polar Bears made steady improvements year by year and finally reached the pinnacle last season in winning West Virginia’s first state title.

Now, there’s another first for the Fairmont Senior program as Morgan Cain plans to sign a letter-of-intent Wednesday with Seton Hill University, a Division II school in Greensburg, Pa.

Cain will be the first Marion County athlete to play lacrosse at the collegiate level.

“When we first started as a program, we never dreamed four years later players would be looking at Division I or Division II schools,” Fairmont Senior coach Jon Cain, Morgan’s father, said. “That’s just icing on the cake for anyone who gets the chance.”

“It’s actually kind of shocking. I’m overwhelmed,” Morgan Cain said. “I had a pretty good year (last season), but never thought it’d end up like this. I hope it opens the door for some of my teammates.”

The opportunity for Cain, a three-year letterman who earned all-state honors as a junior last season, was a product of hard work.

While games and practice provided a chance to hone her skills, much of the heavy lifting was done well after she left East-West Stadium. Last season, Cain had a goal set up at home and spent an hour or two several times a week working on her shot.

The extra time paid immediate dividends. She scored a state-best 86 goals, an average of 4.78 per game, and was named tournament MVP after the Polar Bears beat University in overtime, 12-10, in May to capture the Class AAA championship.

“In soccer and basketball, she was always a defensive player,” Jon Cain said. “For some reason, she fell into the offensive end in lacrosse. That might be why she loves it so much.”

While she participated in basketball and soccer, lacrosse — with its high-scoring games and breakneck pace — grabbed Cain’s attention when introduced to the sport four years ago.

“It was something new, and it’s a completely different sport than anything I’ve ever done,” Morgan Cain said. “I love the intensity of the sport. It’s so fast paced. When I have the ball and I’m running it feels like I’m flying.

“Everytime I pick up a stick, I’m so excited to play.”

She’ll be stepping into a familiar situation with the Griffins, where coach Courtney Tamasitis leads a program entering its fifth season this spring.

“During my visit, coach said it’s not always about looking for the best lacrosse player, but the best athlete,” Morgan Cain said. “That’s why I know some of the kids (from Fairmont Senior can play in college).”

Cain, who has a 3.75 GPA and plans to go into the medical field, looked at eight different colleges and eventually narrowed her choices down to Seton Hill and Robert Morris, each based in Western Pennsylvania. In the end, she picked Seton Hill — and did so earlier than most high school juniors — for a number of reasons.

“I wanted to leave, but not go too far, and I liked the girls on the team. It felt like home,” Morgan Cain said.

“My parents always have pushed me to have my decisions laid out,” she continued. “I like to know where I’m going now. I didn’t want to wait. I’m ready. I’m excited.”

As is her father. Not only for his daughter, but for the ever-growing opportunities West Virginia lacrosse players now have in front of them.

“It’s probably the fastest-growing girls’ sport in the country,” Jon Cain said. “There’s a lot of opportunities out there.”

E-mail Nick Cammuso at ncammuso@timeswv.com.

        

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