New Albany’s Annika Duncan takes different path to state title, Notre Dame College
When Annika Duncan was, as she put it, “kind of forced into the position” of goalie as an eighth-grader for the New Albany Middle School girls lacrosse team, she never could have envisioned helping lead the high school team to a landmark achievement – let alone playing in college.
Yet Duncan will head to Notre Dame College in South Euclid this fall as a state championship goalie, having served as New Albany’s final line of defense as it went 21-2 and won its first Division I title to cap a senior season she entered expecting to be a backup.
“It still doesn’t feel real at times,” Duncan said.
Duncan and Louisville recruit Aubrey Bagenstose were expected to split time entering this year, but injuries to Bagenstose made Duncan the starter. It was largely the same situation as when the two were in eighth grade, when after six seasons as a defender Duncan took over in net when Bagenstose was injured.
Duncan made 135 saves this spring and was named Region 1 and state Goalie of the Year.
New Albany defeated Upper Arlington 13-12 in overtime in the state final June 5 at Historic Crew Stadium.
“Her story is very different from a typical goalie going on to the next level who has gone through the recruiting process and endless hours of personal training,” said Eagles coach Elaina Enich, an All-American in high school who helped New Albany to the Division II state championship in 2013 before playing at Cincinnati. “She did her own thing and fell into this great, tremendous success that was really unknown until this year.”
Duncan was the starting junior varsity goalie as a freshman in 2019 but ended the season as a swing player on varsity.
Duncan and Bagenstose split the starting role as juniors, about the time Duncan began entertaining the idea of playing in college, as New Albany earned a third consecutive state runner-up finish. Duncan essentially devised her own training regimen, devoting time to speed and agility, and committed to Division II Notre Dame College on Sept. 25, 2021.
She trained with sophomore attacker Ellie McClelland, one of the team’s fastest players, and during the preseason insisted on participating in run tests with field players.
“Her name got called and she just started to play phenomenal. It was like watching a butterfly come out of her cocoon,” Enich said. “It was a complete 180(-degree reversal) from the girl we knew as a junior.”
Duncan, who also emphasized having developed her leadership skills, considered that a necessary part of both her mental and physical growth.
“My three biggest (improvements) would be my confidence, leadership skills and my communication,” Duncan said. “I’ve always been very talkative, but I’ve also been a person who is ready to follow instructions and just do what I’m supposed to do. This year especially, I was in such a leadership position so I had to come out of my shell and talk to my defense and let them know what to do.”
Duncan also was field hockey teammates with three starting lacrosse defenders in Catherine Gurd, Meghan Kallner and Natalie Weaver.
“Annika (was) the encourager, the light on the team,” said Weaver, a rising senior and Kennesaw State commit. “If you ever need a laugh, Annika is that leader. If you’re having a bad day, go to her. She keeps you focused.”
dpurpura@thisweeknews.com
@ThisWeekDave
This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Lacrosse: New Albany’s Duncan takes different path to success
