FLG Class of 2019 alum, Kat Henselder, had a great freshman season at Quinnipiac before it was abruptly cancelled due to the coronavirus. The goalie from Lindenhurst appeared in three games before the season ended early. Before becoming a bobcat, Henselder was a two-time varsity lacrosse captain at Lindenhurst Senior High School. She also ran cross-country and winter track.
Q: How did you get into the sport of lacrosse and how long have you been playing for?
A:I started playing in 5th grade, all of my dad’s side of the family played and he had brought it up to my brother. When I heard him talking about it I wanted to learn more about it and my cousin played at UAlbany so we went up and watched a game and after seeing it I decided I wanted to play.
Q: How did running cross country help to improve your lacrosse game?
A: Running cross country helped to keep me in shape and kept me busy and excited for the spring.
Q: What about Quinnipiac University and its lacrosse program helped you decide it was the right school for you?
A: When I first came to campus I didn’t automatically know I wanted to go here. But after meeting with the coaches and team, I knew no other school could compare to the atmosphere the team creates. After seeing how invested they were in getting to know me as a person, seeing how much the team had each others backs and supported each other, I was sold.
Q: Have you always played goalie? What about this position has made you stick to it?
A: I have always played goalie when I started in 5th grade for half the game I would play goalie and the other half I would ppay defense. I really like they power and pressure that goalie face, I made a difference in the game with the saves that I made and helped to dictate the flow of the game.
Q: When you’re not on the lacrosse field, what else are you likely to spend your time doing?
A: I really like spending time with my teammates. Over the past year and a half, they’ve helped me open up. They’ve helped me be the person I was scared to be before. The team is very much a family so being around them is always fun even if there isn’t much going on.
Q: In what ways did the coronavirus quarantine impact your freshman 2020 spring season?
A: Coronavirus had a huge impact on my freshman year spring. We were sent home right after our spring break trip, just before starting conference play. On that trip, everything about playing college lacrosse really sank in. Even though we played our game not knowing it would be the last of the season it was probably our biggest team win of the season.
Q: What are you looking forward to most about next season?
A: I’m really excited to see how the freshmen on the team gel with the rest of the team in a game setting. The team has a really good attitude and brings the energy everyday at practice. It’s going to be a very exciting spring with the new wave of energy and purpose behind us.
Q: Are there any particular coaches/teammates that have taught you valuable lessons about the sport or life that you keep in mind?
A: My teammate Sophia has taught me that my body is far stronger then my mind. She pushes me everyday to be better. Sophia is always there to help hold me up when I am struggling. She also pushes me when she knows there is more left in me that I may not see. The head coach here at QU, TK, has also had a huge impact on me. She often says get comfortable being uncomfortable. Often times when we stop working or pushing it is because we are uncomfortable, but can still do more. This is something I have tried to apply to all aspects of my life. Despite being difficult, it has made me much more productive and confident in myself.
Q: What’s your favorite quote or piece of advice you’ve ever heard or received?
A: My advice is— most times you’re not actually hurting, you’re just tired and uncomfortable.
Q: Lastly, what’s your favorite sports memory?
A: My favorite sports memory isn’t actually during a game, it was during a practice in preseason last spring. We had our ManU run test, and the weather was cold, damp and windy. The girls that passed in the fall didn’t have to run it again but still did. This helped push everyone through it. The amount of support and love I felt in that moment is unlike anything I ever felt before. It really showed me a new level of how much everyone cared about each other. It also proved how everyone has each others back no matter what.
