Costello a lucky Duck
Oak Park resident will play lacrosse at the University of Oregon
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers ON THE OREGON TRAIL- Carlyn Costello of Oak Park Independent School will eventually test her lacrosse skills at Oregon.

Carlyn Costello can't wait to attend the University of Oregon in the fall of 2008.

After making a trip to visit the home of the Ducks last month, Costello quickly fell in love with the campus and the personalities of the people that lived there. What she loved the most about the university, however, is the fact it has a women's lacrosse team.

"When I found out I would be going to Oregon I was in tears because I was so happy," Costello said. "I have pictures of myself jumping on the couch and screaming in joy."

Although she hasn't yet signed an NCAA Letter of Intent, Costello has made a verbal commitment to Oregon to play lacrosse. The senior, who goes to Oak Park Independent School, said she only plays in about 15 lacrosse games per year.

"I used to play for a club team, the Conejo Clash, for about three years," Costello said. "But after Oak Park High School was granted CIF access the team lost a lot of its competition."

Costello has also played for the South Bay Lady Starz and Element 5 club teams over the last four years, trying to get in a game whenever and wherever she could. Costello once made a trip to Maryland to play in a tournament, only to realize it had been canceled.

"I flew all the way to Maryland only to get there and find out it was raining all day," Costello said with a laugh. "I ended up waiting seven hours in a mall before they told me there would be no games. I was bummed that day, but I think word started to get around about my dedication to play the game, and I think that helped me get into Oregon."

Another thing that helped get Costello into Oregon was her play on the field.

Although her high school didn't have a lacrosse team, the midfielder was still selected to the 2007 United States Lacrosse Women's Division High School All-America first team.

Costello's brother, Chad, who will be attending Yale this fall after a storied career playing lacrosse for Oak Park, said Carlyn is a better player than he is.

"She is a great player and just a raw athlete," Chad Costello said. "She is a quick learner, and I'm glad she'll get the chance to play lacrosse somewhere in college."

Carlyn Costello said the upcoming year will be difficult on her with her brother being away at college.

"He has taught me so much about the sport," Carlyn Costello said. "His best advice to me was to always play the game with a lot of heart.

"In lacrosse you can't be afraid, and he taught me to play tough. Women's lacrosse uses more finesse than men's lacrosse, but with my brother helping me so much, it prepares me for when I have to play against a player that might be a little tougher than me physically."

Although it may be difficult for Carlyn Costello to find a good game of lacrosse to compete in, she said her love for the sport has never waned over the years. She is hopeful the sport will become more popular in the area soon.

"I think Oak Park High being granted CIF access was important," Carlyn Costello said. "I hope more people get into lacrosse because of that. I love the speed of the game and how it seems there is an unlimited amount of learning that comes with playing it."