Colorado University Athletics
Sophomore Sadie Grozier is third on the team in goals this season
Photo by: Lance Wendt
Grozier’s Breakout Sophomore Season Helps Buffs To NCAA Tournament
May 09, 2019 | Lacrosse
BOULDER – Ever since she was a little girl, University of Colorado sophomore Sadie Grozier has loved lacrosse.
"It's just something that I've always loved doing and I think that if I'm having a bad day or something I just love being outside and playing lacrosse," she said. "So I think that's been a reason why I'm still playing today."
Grozier, whose family was originally from the east coast, began playing at a very young age. Because of her family's ties to the east coast, it wasn't that odd of a sport to play. She play high school lacrosse all four years and during her freshman season, she was able to play with her sister Molly, who was a goalie.
"It was really fun because it was all of her friends and me, so I felt like I was intruding on their friend group, but I was just on the team," she said "There was only two freshman on the team, so it was my best friend, me and all of her best friends too."
Molly went on to play collegiately at Marquette, and although Grozier had the opportunity to play for the Golden Eagles as well, she passed on it to come to Boulder, because like many others, the beautiful campus and the exceptional connection she found on the lacrosse team. "There is a lot to do here socially and academically," she added.
As a freshman, Grozier started in all 20 games for the Buffs, but found the transition from high school to college a bit challenging.
"It's a lot faster and everyone you play against is very strong and very tough," she said. "I think that getting myself there mentally and physically was probably the biggest change. I think coming from California to the collegiate level there is a lot more competition, I think that when I played club I had to travel to the east coast every single summer to play against the top-level teams. I think it's fun that when you're in college, you're constantly playing against the best players."
Throughout high school and during her freshman season at CU, Grozier played midfield. After recording 22 goals and 26 ground balls as a freshman, the coaching staff saw her potential as an attacker, so she made the move at the beginning of her sophomore season.
"Since the beginning Sadie has been someone that we wanted to step in and have a big role," head coach Ann Elliott Whidden said. "Last year as a freshman she was playing on a very talented team, but she had an itch. She really stepped up for us. She got her opportunities and this year we were trying to build off of that."
The thought of playing a new position could be daunting, but she was able to learn from seniors Miranda Stinson and Samantha Nemirov, who have been the top scorers during the 2019 season. She believes that being able to play attack well will make her a better player overall. Being offensively focused has been a big change for her.
She says the biggest difference between the two positions is that attack "is a bunch of little things vs midfield which is switching back and forth."
Her quick adaptation to attack this year has not gone unnoticed.
"We moved her to attack because for us it's another player that can put pressure on the defense and we want her on the field all the time," Whidden said. "I think in her new position, she's growing a lot, learning a lot. It comes with its challenges, obviously, but she's the type of player that buys into what she's asked to do. She responds to every challenge and she wants to get better. She doesn't get down on herself and she just takes on every challenge. We are excited about where she is and we could put her anywhere on the field. We want her to just keep getting better."
Her mentality shifted as she took on this new role as an attack player to, "I need to score, I need to finish." This newfound mindset has been a key point in creating a successful season for the Buffs. Heading into the NCAA Tournament, she is third on the team with 32 goals and nine assists for 41 points. She also has 19 ground balls and nine caused turnovers. She says her goals for this season and the coming years are, "trying to get more confidence" and "being a leader" on the team.
Every year, Grozier hopes to learn more and improve her game. Her goals for the upcoming years are, "trying to get more confidence" and "being a leader" on the team.
Her positive attitude and versatility on the field are essential to the success of CU's future. As the third leading scorer, she will continue to be a force for the Buffs in the coming years. But first things first, the Buffs will be looking to advance as far as possible in the NCAA Tournament this season, starting with the first round on Friday, May 10, against Dartmouth.
"It's just something that I've always loved doing and I think that if I'm having a bad day or something I just love being outside and playing lacrosse," she said. "So I think that's been a reason why I'm still playing today."
Grozier, whose family was originally from the east coast, began playing at a very young age. Because of her family's ties to the east coast, it wasn't that odd of a sport to play. She play high school lacrosse all four years and during her freshman season, she was able to play with her sister Molly, who was a goalie.
"It was really fun because it was all of her friends and me, so I felt like I was intruding on their friend group, but I was just on the team," she said "There was only two freshman on the team, so it was my best friend, me and all of her best friends too."
Molly went on to play collegiately at Marquette, and although Grozier had the opportunity to play for the Golden Eagles as well, she passed on it to come to Boulder, because like many others, the beautiful campus and the exceptional connection she found on the lacrosse team. "There is a lot to do here socially and academically," she added.
As a freshman, Grozier started in all 20 games for the Buffs, but found the transition from high school to college a bit challenging.
"It's a lot faster and everyone you play against is very strong and very tough," she said. "I think that getting myself there mentally and physically was probably the biggest change. I think coming from California to the collegiate level there is a lot more competition, I think that when I played club I had to travel to the east coast every single summer to play against the top-level teams. I think it's fun that when you're in college, you're constantly playing against the best players."
Throughout high school and during her freshman season at CU, Grozier played midfield. After recording 22 goals and 26 ground balls as a freshman, the coaching staff saw her potential as an attacker, so she made the move at the beginning of her sophomore season.
"Since the beginning Sadie has been someone that we wanted to step in and have a big role," head coach Ann Elliott Whidden said. "Last year as a freshman she was playing on a very talented team, but she had an itch. She really stepped up for us. She got her opportunities and this year we were trying to build off of that."
The thought of playing a new position could be daunting, but she was able to learn from seniors Miranda Stinson and Samantha Nemirov, who have been the top scorers during the 2019 season. She believes that being able to play attack well will make her a better player overall. Being offensively focused has been a big change for her.
She says the biggest difference between the two positions is that attack "is a bunch of little things vs midfield which is switching back and forth."
Her quick adaptation to attack this year has not gone unnoticed.
"We moved her to attack because for us it's another player that can put pressure on the defense and we want her on the field all the time," Whidden said. "I think in her new position, she's growing a lot, learning a lot. It comes with its challenges, obviously, but she's the type of player that buys into what she's asked to do. She responds to every challenge and she wants to get better. She doesn't get down on herself and she just takes on every challenge. We are excited about where she is and we could put her anywhere on the field. We want her to just keep getting better."
Her mentality shifted as she took on this new role as an attack player to, "I need to score, I need to finish." This newfound mindset has been a key point in creating a successful season for the Buffs. Heading into the NCAA Tournament, she is third on the team with 32 goals and nine assists for 41 points. She also has 19 ground balls and nine caused turnovers. She says her goals for this season and the coming years are, "trying to get more confidence" and "being a leader" on the team.
Every year, Grozier hopes to learn more and improve her game. Her goals for the upcoming years are, "trying to get more confidence" and "being a leader" on the team.
Her positive attitude and versatility on the field are essential to the success of CU's future. As the third leading scorer, she will continue to be a force for the Buffs in the coming years. But first things first, the Buffs will be looking to advance as far as possible in the NCAA Tournament this season, starting with the first round on Friday, May 10, against Dartmouth.
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