On Feb. 9 via Instagram junior midfielder Christian Gilford announced his commitment to continue his lacrosse career at Sacred Heart University.
Gilford played on varsity as a sophomore, netting one goal and four ground balls in three games played. He plays at both midfield and attack and is looking to make a massive impact for Westfield in the upcoming 2024 season. He said that his biggest achievement of his athletic career so far was his commitment, and for the rest of his high school career, his goals are “to win counties and a state championship.”
Sacred Heart is located in Fairfield, Connecticut and is a private Division I, Roman Catholic University that plays in the North East conference along with universities such as Wagner and Robert Morris. Last year, Sacred Heart went 5-10 and 5-4 within their conference. They have started off their 2024 season 0-2 with close losses to Merrimack and Stony Brook.
Gilford chose to commit to play for the Big Red because of “the strong team culture, the coaching staff and the facilities.”
Gilford should make an immediate impact for Sacred Heart, and according to Senior teammate Michael Marshall, who is committed to play lacrosse at Cornell University, “Chris Gilford is an all around stud. On the field he is the shiftiest player I’ve ever played against and easily one of the hardest to guard. He leads very well by example and his ball IQ is equal to that of an ACC or Big 10 recruit.”
Marshall also testified to Gilford’s superb character off the field, where “he is a friend who will always have your back and ride for you throughout highs and lows. He’s one of the all around best teammates to have.”
Marshall culminated his testament, saying, “I wouldn’t trade that kid for the world. Great kid and athlete.”
