KINGSTON – Kate Romanowski settled her athletic future in the first half of her junior year, making a verbal commitment to a field hockey scholarship from Villanova University after completing her high school season.

Romanowski used the second half of the school year to show that, for now, she can still be a significant force in another sport.

The West Pittston resident led Wyoming Seminary to its latest District 2 and Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 girls lacrosse titles, earning Player of the Year honors from both the Times Leader and the conference’s coaches in the process.

Romanowski said the decision to follow her sister Ann, who just completed a four-year career by serving as Villanova field hockey captain as a senior, was no reason to slow down on the lacrosse field.

Related Video

“I think they work pretty well together,” Romanowski said. “My college head coach, in particular, is into playing other sports and using those abilities from different sports in field hockey as well.

“I think all the skills from lacrosse work well with field hockey.”

Playing the ball in the air rather than on the ground, Romanowski still made the most of her athleticism – in particular the ability to run, both with speed and endurance – to score a team-high 72 goals while posting 16 assists from the center position in the midfield. Romanowski scored eight of those goals in a 13-4 district championship game victory over Coughlin to send the Blue Knights back to the state playoffs.

The championship game emphasized Wyoming Seminary and Romanowski’s skill in getting the ball out of trouble in the defensive end and up the field for the attack quickly.

“The transition was something that we really worked on this year,” Romanowski said.

Romanowski aided a transition of another kind, helping the Blue Knights make up for significant graduation losses from the 2015 championship squad to come back stronger in 2016, going unbeaten in the WVC.

“I think we finished even stronger than last year,” Romanowski said. “ … I think we had a great season.”

Romanowski was a big reason that happened.

Wyoming Seminary’s Kate Romanowski led the Wyoming Seminary with 72 goals to go with her 16 assists this season.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL062216Kate-Romanowski2.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Seminary’s Kate Romanowski led the Wyoming Seminary with 72 goals to go with her 16 assists this season. Aimee Dilger | Sunday Dispatch

Wyoming Seminary’s Kate Romanowski, left, wins a draw against Wyoming Area’s Erica Gallagher in a District 2 girls lacrosse playoff game earlier this season.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_SD_Kate-Romanowski_1-1-.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Seminary’s Kate Romanowski, left, wins a draw against Wyoming Area’s Erica Gallagher in a District 2 girls lacrosse playoff game earlier this season. Bill Tarutis File Photo | For Sunday Dispatch

Despite her success in girls lacrosse, Kate Romanowski has made an early verbal commitment to play field hockey from Villanova University.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL062216Kate-Romanowski1.jpg.optimal.jpgDespite her success in girls lacrosse, Kate Romanowski has made an early verbal commitment to play field hockey from Villanova University. Aimee Dilger | Sunday Dispatch
West Pittston resident named top lacrosse player

By Tom Robinson

For Sunday Dispatch

Reach the Sunday Dispatch newsroom at 570-655-1418 or by email at sd@s24530.p831.sites.pressdns.com.