Hazleton Area senior lacrosse player Faith Russo scored a career-high seven goals and assisted on two others as the Lady Cougars opened their season with a 16-8 victory over Pittston Area.
Athlete of the Week: Faith Russo
Age: 18
School: Hazleton Area
Class: Senior
Hometown: Conyngham
Family: Mother, Nicole; father, Anthony; brothers, Luke, 21, Grant, 20
Sport: Lacrosse
Other sports you play or have played: Field hockey
Favorite team: New York Yankees
Favorite athlete: Aaron Judge
Favorite school subject: Science
Favorite food: Popcorn
Favorite hobby: Working out
Favorite movie: “Beauty and the Beast”
Favorite TV show: “Grey’s Anatomy”
Favorite pump-up song: “Over” by Drake
Best advice you ever received: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
Future plans: Attend DeSales University to major in Nursing and continue my lacrosse career.
How important was getting off to a strong start for you individually and from a team perspective?
Since it was my first game of my senior season, individually it was extremely important to put everything I’ve been working on over the winter and in practice into the game. I tried to go in with confidence in order to start off strong. From a team perspective, we have a lot of new players and a small team so starting off strong in this first game was really a confidence-booster for the upcoming games.
Talk about how your own confidence continued to swell with each of your goals against Pittston Area.
I went into the game wanting to shoot as many good shots as I could so once I scored my first few goals, my confidence really increased. My coach always tells us to “place” our shots and “look for the white,” so I heard this in my head as went in for a shot, trying to spot the goalie’s weak areas.
Did your teammates seem to be looking for you to shoot more since you were having so much success?
As a team, we always try to look for the open player and make the vital passes to get the best shots. I was able to shoot more because of the good passes given to me by my teammates.
Where has your lacrosse game grown the most over the past four seasons?
Over the past four seasons, I have tried to evaluate my weaknesses in order to make them strengths. My instincts in having better field vision have improved and in working on fundamentals of stick handling, I have gained more confidence in switching to my left hand as well taking better shots.
You started as a freshman when the Hazleton Area program was basically in its infant stages. How much has the program grown over the past four years?
Over the past four years, the Hawks club team has acted as a feeder program for the high school team. Our coaches have also worked in the offseason to get more people out to play. They made it fun including bonding experiences and even having us play for a cause such as “Morgan’s Message.” Winning the first district championship (in program history) in 2023 has also boosted our team.
You also played field hockey for four years. To the average sports fan, field hockey and lacrosse look the same — put the ball in a cage or net more than the other team. To a player, though, what are the biggest similarities, differences between the two sports?
The biggest similarities between field hockey and lacrosse is running the full field, passing and shooting. There are many differences, though, as lacrosse includes particular hand-eye coordination for catching and throwing the ball. In field hockey the ball is on ground. In lacrosse, it is also a lot easier to sprint the entire field on a fast break without being stopped.
What did you do to stay in shape between field hockey and lacrosse seasons?
I go to the gym everyday and attend offseason lifts at the high school. I also try to go for runs as much as possible to keep myself conditioned .
You come from a very sports-minded family. How much influence have they had on your athletic career?
They have had a significant influence on my athletic career, as from a young age I was taught the value of competition in something as simple as miniature golf. I was always taught to hold high expectations for myself and the importance of what sports can do for you as an individual. My family has inspired me to strive to be the best athlete I could be.
What’s the best advice you’ve received from your parents and/or your brothers regarding sports?
My dad has always told me that it’s “not how you start; it’s how you finish” and to always be ready and play with heart no matter what. My mom tells me before every game to “play hard and have fun.” My brother Luke has taught me to be patient and not get worked up over the little things. My brother Grant has motivated me by always telling me to “be better.”
What will be written about Faith Russo when her high school athletic career is done?
I hope it is written that I always played with heart, worked hard, hustled and never gave up, even when things got tough. I also hope I am seen as a team player who always wanted what was best for my team.
