Junior lacrosse attacker, Gilli Cohen, announced her commitment to Lehigh University on Sept. 15 via Instagram.
“My sister played and I just wanted to play a sport with her,” Cohen said. Cohen started playing lacrosse in kindergarten to follow in her older sister’s footsteps. However, little did she know that this flattery would turn into a “passion” and desire to “practice all the time.” By developing her skills, hard work resulted in an offer from a Division I program.
Cohen has played for Westfield’s varsity team since her freshman year, and that was not “strictly about skill,” said head coach Kathryn DaSilva. “It [was] about maturity and work ethic as well.”
Cohen has been playing club lacrosse since fourth grade, and runs winter track and field to prepare for the high school season. With her dedication to the sport, she has accumulated a number of achievements. Just as a sophomore, Cohen was named to the Stars & Stripes Blue Division first team on nj.com and Union County All-Conference honorable mention. She also hit the 100 point (combination of assists and goals) milestone toward the end of the 2024 Westfield season.
“Gilli has grown tremendously… [she] has raised the bar for herself… She is more vocal on and off the field and more confident. But, I expect her to keep pushing herself and I hope that she continues to become a name in girls high school lacrosse,” said DaSilva.
One of Cohen’s favorite elements of lacrosse is, “the team aspect and always meeting new people.” Her time with the Blue Devils has outlined this tremendously. “It was my first experience playing with a team every single day. [During] club, you only practice once a week, so it was my first real experience having a strong team culture and hanging out as a team outside of the field. That was special,” Cohen said.
Cohen will join Lehigh’s Division I lacrosse program that competes in the Patriot League. Last season, the Mountain Hawks finished with an 8-9 record piloted by Lehigh’s winningest head coach, Jill Redfern. Lehigh has not won a Patriot League Championship since 1994, and rivals Loyola University who has won the past 5 championships.
Perhaps Cohen’s expertise can turn the tides for Lehigh’s long-rivalry against Loyola. According to DaSilva, her “precise” passes and incredible shot placement will make Cohen a huge contributor to the Mountain Hawk’s offense. “She is one of the best shooters I have ever seen: she knows when to use power and when to use finesse,” said Dasilva.
Although receiving offers from other schools, Lehigh’s atmosphere ultimately secured Cohen’s decision and ended her search for another strong team culture. “It was the first school I visited and I really liked it. The coach was always so nice and so welcoming, and the whole team was just really nice,” said Cohen.
Cohen has two more seasons as a Blue Devil before becoming a Mountain Hawk, to “step up as a leader for our program,” said DaSilva.
