All-purpose Besselman headed to Lafayette
BucksLocalSports Editor
Council Rock South senior Christine Besselman is headed to Lafayette rniversity to play Division I lacrosse. An attack wing who registered 45 goals as a junior and will most likely eclipse 100 for her career this spring, Christine’s 2012 varsity coach brica Hellerstein is quick to point out the other aspects of Besselman’s game.
“She’s the player that can go down and score the goal when you need it but she can come up with the draw and do a lot of other things,” said Hellerstein, who has since stepped down at South.
“She can come up with a lot of defensive plays or dish it off to a teammate up top.
“She’s one of our most well-rounded players.”
Part of the reason why Besselman is such a complete player is because she also plays club lacrosse. A defender for Phantastix, Besselman gets a chance to play on the other side of the ball for the Berwyn-based club.
Having played college lacrosse at bast Stroudsburg, Hellerstein knows a thing or two about what it takes to be successful at an NCAA level.
“I think she’ll be phenomenal,” said the coach. “She’s been playing at a high level [at Phantastix] – probably against some of the girls she’ll be playing against in college.”
Besselman familiarizes herself with all positions on WKH fiHOG, sKH sDys, EHFDusH you never know where the coach is going to need you.
“Lacrosse is a sport where you’re always playing every position,” said Besselman. “Defenders can go on the attack if they have the ball and they see room to run.”
“vou need to be able to counter that.”
A four-year varsity starter, Besselman was a junior captain last season and will once again lead the Golden Hawks this spring.
“She made an impact on WKH fiHOG HYHUy sLngOH yHDU,” said Hellerstein. “She is D gUHDW OHDGHU Rn WKH fiHOG by being able to make an impact at both ends of the fiHOG.”
Besselman has also given back to the community by encouraging the younger players in the program and by coaching youth teams in the area, the coach added.
Among the highlights thus far at South for Besselman was a goal she scored ODsW sHDsRn wLWK fiYH sHFonds left to help the Hawks to an 11-10 victory over CB bast.
One goal that has eluded Besselman and CR South the last three years however, is a victory over North. The Hawks have beaten the Indians just once in the 11 years since South opened and North has won all six matchups since Besselman joined the team.
While the Hawks went 6-1 overall, 2-6 in the SOL National in 2012, the Indians were unbeaten in the league at 12-0 and went 15-4 overall.
However, this spring may
be the year the Hawks turn the corner, said Besselman.
“Last year, they had a ri- diculous senior class – they all went to top colleges for lacrosse,” Besselman explained. “This year, since they lost a lot of seniors, they have more of a young team so we have a pretty good shot at beating them.”
With Christine on your team, anything is possible.
*** NOTES: Besselman also looked at Washington & Lee but picked Lafayette because she felt it was a betWHr fiW, DWhOHWLFDOOy. ThH &R South girls lacrosse team is currently coached by Ashley Muenker.