Karly Kocis Inks
NCAA Letter of Intent
Karly Kocis, a Huntington High School senior, has signed an NCAA Division I letter of intent, accepting a scholarship and committing to play lacrosse at St. Bonaventure University in southwestern New York.
“I am really excited to have already signed with St. Bonaventure,” Ms. Kocis said. “I never knew that I would be done in November, but I’m very happy with my decision. From the second I stepped on campus, I had a great feeling about the school and knew this would be a place where I would excel, not only in lacrosse but in academics as well.”
Ms. Kocis, who plays goalkeeper, said it’s her intention to study in the sports science program. “Hopefully physical therapy, but right now it’s too soon to say what I really want to do for the rest of my life,” she said.
A recruiting visit to St. Bonaventure, which is located 90 minutes south of Buffalo and an equal distance east of Erie, PA, sold the Huntington senior on the school and led to the early signing. “I connected so well with both coaches and all the girls and I know that I will have a ton of fun with them,” Ms. Kocis said. “College lacrosse is definitely going to be much different than playing high school lacrosse. What I have been told so far is that I will be on a three day-a-week work-out plan and practice six days a week. I am ready to embrace the challenge and I am really excited to be doing it at Bonaventure.”
Last spring St. Bonaventure compiled a 7-10 record, losing five games by two goals or less. The team returns 11-of-12 starters this coming season, leading to high hopes.
The road to St. Bonaventure has been an interesting one for the Blue Devil star. “Coming into lacrosse season my freshman year, I played the center position,” Ms. Kocis said. “From second grade up until the beginning of my freshman year I played center. Trish Martin was the varsity coach at the time and she knew that I played goalie for my ice hockey team. She asked me if I would be interested in making the switch from center to goalie and after about a week-and-a-half of thinking about it, I said yes. Coach Martin helped me so much that year and although she was not my coach the following years, she taught me all the basics that I needed to know about the position and I just grew from there. If she didn’t ask me if I wanted to play goalie for the varsity team, I wouldn’t be where I am today. She got me going and I really have to thank her for that.”
In her last year with the Blue Devils, Ms. Kocis will be looking to go out on top of her game. “Huntington lacrosse has taught me a lot,” she said. “Coach [Nancy] Wilson and coach [Brad] Reminick have not only taught me how to become a better lacrosse player, but also how to become a better person. I have learned so much from both of them and can’t wait for another awesome season.”
“Karly has been a key factor in Huntington’s success,” Ms. Wilson said. “She has had multiple games where she saved 10 or more shots on goal. She was a key to the team’s turn around last spring and a major contributor to the team’s transition game. She has tremendous distance clears where she can move the ball outside the 30-yard line, is quick and mobile outside of the net providing outlets for the defense and maintains composure under pressure.”
The Kocis family has lacrosse in its blood. Her dad, Bob Kocis, was the head lacrosse coach for her team from third through sixth grade and he’s the former president of the Huntington Village Lacrosse Club. Karly’s sister Jillian, a Huntington sophomore, plays lacrosse, as well as field hockey and Karly’s brother, Ben is an eighth grade football, basketball and lacrosse player in eight grade at J. Taylor Finley Middle School. Bob Kocis has also coached his son’s lax team from third through sixth grade.
“Karly can exhibit a focus and determination that puts her in a zone where she is unstoppable,” Ms. Wilson said. “She is a joy to coach and is well-liked by her fellow athletes. We are fortunate to have her as a member of our lacrosse family.”
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