Colorado University Athletics
Senior defender Anna Collawn
Photo by: Scott Arnold, ProMotion Ltd.
Collawn’s Versatility Key In Buffs' Success
April 27, 2020 | Lacrosse
BOULDER – Versatility can go a long way. Just ask University of Colorado senior Anna Collawn.
Since arriving on campus in the fall of 2016, Collawn has played just about every position for the Buffaloes except for goalkeeper.
"I came in as a midfielder. In the fall of my sophomore year, I got moved to low attack," she said. "Then in the spring, a midfielder got hurt. After meeting with my coaches, they moved me back to midfield."
Collawn played her entire sophomore season at midfield and even scored the first-ever goal in Pac-12 Conference history against Stanford on March 9, 2018, in Boulder. She would score six more goals that season, in addition to recording seven ground balls and two draw controls.
She was poised to play midfield again as a junior, but when teammate Devon Bayer was injured on defense, CU needed someone to step in and fill that void.
"Moving Anna down to defense was a way for us to add another strong presence down there," head coach Ann Elliott Whidden said. "She is smart. She has great size. She moves really well in our defense. And I think that is a role that she has really taken to and has excelled."
The change worked out great for the Buffs who had graduated a couple of defensive starters from the prior season. Collawn stepped in and was quick on transitions for the Buffs. She recorded 36 ground balls, eight draw controls and 18 caused turnovers, which was tied for third on the team.
Earlier into the 2020 season, Collawn was moved to a different position on defense. But all of this switching positions doesn't bother her. Collawn simply puts it, "Wherever I can positively impact our team on the field is where I want to be. When I transitioned to defense it was great because I got to be on the field for every play."
Not everything was easy though. Learning a new position comes with its challenges. The biggest obstacle Collawn had to overcome, in her opinion, was transitioning the ball.
"I got a lot of feedback from my coach because I was a midfielder going to defense," she said. "They wanted me to hold the ball a lot and run through people, which was different for me."
The Raleigh, N.C. native seems to succeed in everything she does. A two-time Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention selection is working towards a degree in psychology with minors in communication and sociology. Given her work ethic both on and off the field, it's safe to say her individual goal of 'doing what I can to be as good as I can be in any position that my team needs' was successful. And considering how versatile Collawn is, and all the positions she has played, one would guess if her coaches asked her to play goalie, she probably would have stepped right in.
Since arriving on campus in the fall of 2016, Collawn has played just about every position for the Buffaloes except for goalkeeper.
"I came in as a midfielder. In the fall of my sophomore year, I got moved to low attack," she said. "Then in the spring, a midfielder got hurt. After meeting with my coaches, they moved me back to midfield."
Collawn played her entire sophomore season at midfield and even scored the first-ever goal in Pac-12 Conference history against Stanford on March 9, 2018, in Boulder. She would score six more goals that season, in addition to recording seven ground balls and two draw controls.
She was poised to play midfield again as a junior, but when teammate Devon Bayer was injured on defense, CU needed someone to step in and fill that void.
"Moving Anna down to defense was a way for us to add another strong presence down there," head coach Ann Elliott Whidden said. "She is smart. She has great size. She moves really well in our defense. And I think that is a role that she has really taken to and has excelled."
The change worked out great for the Buffs who had graduated a couple of defensive starters from the prior season. Collawn stepped in and was quick on transitions for the Buffs. She recorded 36 ground balls, eight draw controls and 18 caused turnovers, which was tied for third on the team.
Earlier into the 2020 season, Collawn was moved to a different position on defense. But all of this switching positions doesn't bother her. Collawn simply puts it, "Wherever I can positively impact our team on the field is where I want to be. When I transitioned to defense it was great because I got to be on the field for every play."
Not everything was easy though. Learning a new position comes with its challenges. The biggest obstacle Collawn had to overcome, in her opinion, was transitioning the ball.
"I got a lot of feedback from my coach because I was a midfielder going to defense," she said. "They wanted me to hold the ball a lot and run through people, which was different for me."
The Raleigh, N.C. native seems to succeed in everything she does. A two-time Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention selection is working towards a degree in psychology with minors in communication and sociology. Given her work ethic both on and off the field, it's safe to say her individual goal of 'doing what I can to be as good as I can be in any position that my team needs' was successful. And considering how versatile Collawn is, and all the positions she has played, one would guess if her coaches asked her to play goalie, she probably would have stepped right in.
Players Mentioned
M
/ Lacrosse
M
/ LacrosseMonday, May 04
Monday, May 04
Sunday, April 26
Saturday, April 18