Alice Manzo, a midfielder on the Westfield lacrosse team, announced her commitment to Lehigh University on Sept. 21 via Instagram.
She was a competitive ski racer for eight years, but the solitary sport couldn’t keep her shackled. The “fun [she has] with her friends, the enjoyment [of] playing on a team, the competitiveness” and the desire to improve, are just a few of the many reasons why Manzo chose to pursue her passion for lacrosse.
Even though Manzo has been playing for Steps Elite 2026 Blue for six years, one of Manzo’s core memories happened on the Blue Devil field. With a humble smile and reminiscent eyes, Manzo said, “During my freshman year– I was on varsity– I scored the game-winner in quadruple overtime.”
This was just one of her many MVP moments, and her loyalty to the sport and dedication to her craft has been rewarded through a multitude of accolades. Manzo made first team Union County All-Conference as a freshman and sophomore, as well as first team Stars & Stripes Blue Division on nj.com for her sophomore year and honorable mention for her freshman year.
In addition to her recorded achievements, Manzo has made impacts that cannot be represented by statistics. Head coach Kathryn DaSilva said, “On our WHS team, I have seen Alice overcome a lot of adversity. From injuries to team chemistry, she has always tried to keep a positive attitude and team mentality, even when it was hard to do so.”
Now, Manzo will bring her infectious smile and agile skillset to the Mountain Hawks. Last season, the Division I program finished with an 8-9 record under head coach Jill Redfern while competing in the Patriot League.
Manzo was drawn to Lehigh by the big competitors within their conference that will be followed by large crowds and loud student sections. “[The Patriot League] is really awesome because we get to play Army, Navy, Holy Cross, and all those big schools,” said Manzo.
Overall, Lehigh checked all of Manzo’s boxes. “It’s the perfect balance between academics, athletics and social life…and it’s close to home.” On her official visit, Manzo added that she “felt the most comfortable and [like] the most wanted athlete.”
Manzo’s versatility made her an “extremely marketable recruit” according to DaSilva, which explains the high demand for her expertise. “Alice is equally good on defense as she is on attack. She also is part of our draw control unit and she is excellent on the draw circle,” said DaSilva.
Manzo has been playing lacrosse since she was five years old, and that timeline will be extended four more years at the Division I level with her close friend and fellow Lehigh commit, Gilli Cohen.
“I am really excited because we have been teammates for a long time,” four years to be exact, “and it’s not going to end for another six years,” said Cohen.
Manzo still has two years to develop her Westfield legacy before moving to the Mountain Hawk program. “I am thrilled to have Alice for two more seasons because she made a statement as a freshman and a sophomore. I can only imagine what her junior and senior year have in store. As far as expectations, I expect her to contribute and create the friendly team environment that she has thrived for,” said DaSilva.
