LIU women’s lacrosse standout Harper Skeie spent the Fourth of July weekend balancing celebrating America’s birthday with her family’s heritage.
Skeie, a rising sophomore attacker/midfielder, represented Team Italy in the World Lacrosse Festival in San Diego. Players with collegiate lacrosse experience who have Italian ancestors were eligible for the team.
Skeie played in honor of her grandmother and great-grandmothers. The team went 6-0 and won the event’s championship.
The U.S. men’s national team defeated Canada in the finals of the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship at San Diego State University.
Skeie, who hails from Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., appeared in seven games as a freshman last season. She tallied two goals, one assist, five ground balls and three caused turnovers.
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LIU women’s hockey assistant coach Shelly Picard had the opportunity to work with National Hockey League prospects while honing her coaching skills this summer.
Picard, who joined the Sharks staff this summer, was one of three guest coaches invited to the Buffalo Sabres’ development camp at LECOM Harborcenter, the NHL club’s training facility, earlier this month.
The camp included Sabres prospects, including 2023 draftees.
The invite came via the NHL Coaches’ Association, which aims to increase the league’s diversity. Picard also has been involved in programs with the NHLCA’s Female Coaches Development Program.
Similarly, LIU men’s hockey coach Brett Riley recently spent time working with New York Rangers prospects.
An Olympic silver medalist and four-time IIHF World Champion, Picard spent the 2021-22 and ’22-23 seasons as an assistant with Princeton. She joined her former Metropolitan Riveters teammate, LIU head coach Kelly Nash, this summer.
Prior to entering coaching, Picard was a standout defenseman at Harvard. She was a three-time All-Ivy League selection and, in 2015, was a key contributor to the Crimson’s run to the national championship…
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