In the NESCAC, players can often shine twice as bright

Erin Nicholas is both a lacrosse national champion and conference Player of the Year in field hockey at Middlebury. (Will Costello)

As a recruited lacrosse player in high school, Erin Nicholas did not attend a non-Division 1 camp until her junior year when she attended Middlebury’s.

She noticed a difference right away.

“I loved the balance that I felt between academics, athletics and social life,” she said. “It was a very different vibe from a lot of the D-1 camps, which were more focused around the sport itself.”

Nicholas, who also played field hockey and basketball in high school, faced a decision many young lacrosse players will be making in the months ahead: Play one sport at the highest level possible or try to balance two.