After being named GEICO student-athlete of the week, Kendall Goldblum shared the story of how her lacrosse career began.
“One of my best friends said ‘hey, you should do this, it's a lot of fun.' I've been into sports all my life. So I was open to trying something new,” Goldblum said. “And so that day, I went with my mom to Dick's Sporting Goods, and got a $20 stick and started to pass around out in the backyard.”
She then decided to become a manager of the seventh grade team, eventually starting to play her eighth-grade year. Since then, she’s never looked back.
From getting her first lacrosse stick at Dick’s Sporting Goods in seventh grade to taking her fifth year of eligibility to play with the Eagles, Goldblum has shown everyone the power of perseverance.
Although Goldblum did not start her lacrosse career as a toddler, she knew as soon as she picked up that lacrosse stick that she had found her new love. After dropping basketball, Goldblum continued her lacrosse career, playing up and down the East Coast before committing to American University.
Goldblum’s journey at American University started just as one would expect, but her next four years were anything but ordinary. The lacrosse team had multiple coaching changes and the COVID-19 pandemic led to the premature ending of the 2019-2020 season and a shortened 2020-2021. Reflecting on the experience, Goldblum said it was difficult
“I struggled last year…kind of losing sight of the big picture,” she said.
With the dynamic of last season having a constant feeling of “uncertainty,” there was always the thought of never knowing when or “if you're gonna play your next game”
In 2021, Goldblum scored 14 points compared to 35 points in 2020 and 47 points in 2019. Goldblum shots on goal percentage went from 78 percent in 2020 to 68 percent in 2021. Goldblum has rebounded this season, and her SOG percent is at 89 percent this season.
“I think unfortunately COVID hit her maybe a little different than others last year, she just wasn't herself,” Coach Lindsay Teeters said. “I've just been so proud of her for the transformation that she made from last year to this year to really see her…just being the best version of Kendall, which has been so fun to watch and to coach.”
With the lacrosse season already underway, the team has continued to face issues with COVID-19. On April 8, AU’s game at Lehigh was postponed, but Goldblum said the Eagles were not deterred by the rescheduled game.
“It's just one game,” Goldblum said. “Our whole entire season was canceled a few years ago”.
Especially for the graduating seniors and fifth-year athletes on the team, this is the last chance to make an impact, and Goldblum is doing exactly that this season.
Goldblum has been essential to AU’s offense this season. With 30 goals and 39 points, her best game was against UMBC where she scored 10 goals, Goldblum has contributed to AU’s 8-5 record this season.
Teeters said that Goldblum came back this season “the best version of herself…both on the field and off the field,” and as a powerful leader that will be missed in the AU Lacrosse program next year.
Her time at AU has been impactful not just on the lacrosse field, but she has also spent her time displaying her leadership off the field in her five years at American University.
On the field, Goldblum described herself as “very vocal” and always cheering people on during practice. In the classroom, she said, she’s “one of the quieter ones.”
Teeters said Goldblum was “determined, passionate and a goofball,” always bringing joy to the underclassman.
After graduating in June, Goldblum plans on heading back to North Carolina to work for a marketing firm, although she is very interested in potentially coaching lacrosse if she comes across a position.
Goldblum will be leaving big shoes to fill for the underclassmen, and it all started with her $20 lacrosse stick in seventh grade.
