With 34 goals, three assists and 37 points on the season, Martin has more than doubled the next-best scorer on the second-ranked Jeffs team and is one of the reasons for Amherst's dynamite 7-1 record so far this season. Although Martin has been playing center middle as opposed to attack, it is the offensive side of the game that she relishes. "Trying to outsmart a defender and putting the ball in the back of the net is a great challenge," Martin explained.
Martin's talent for outsmarting both defender and goalie was apparent early on. She began playing lacrosse in Baltimore at the age of four and soon found herself playing for the Bryn Mawr High School varsity team, as well as an All-Metro team. As if that wasn't enough, Martin also kept herself busy by playing in a number of other leagues during the weekends and off-season.
In the summers, Martin spends most of her time sharpening her skills in the Metro Summer League, a league designed for all types of players, from Collegiate Division I to high school, and from retired players to coaches. "It's a great way to improve on your skills and to help others improve on their own," said Martin. "This is especially the case because the level of lacrosse in Baltimore is so high."
During all of these games, Martin managed to catch the eyes of a number of recruits, especially after earning All-Metro honors and a player of the year nomination in 1999. After a lacrosse-filled two week trip to England, Martin headed back to the States where she entered UVA as a freshman. During her year and a half at the school, she got a taste of Division I varsity lacrosse as well as club competition. Next, Martin transferred to Goucher where her skills truly earned her recognition. In the year she spent there, Martin racked up the awards, but true to her reputation, she remained quite modest about her successes. "I made the Mid-Atlantic National Team, All-South Atlantic Regional Team, All-Capital Athletic Conference selection and National All-American honorable mention," laughed Martin. "However, I have no clue what any of those things really are."
Although she may have played down her awards, they got the attention of Amherst women's head lacrosse coach Chris Paradis. "She has outstanding stick skills, can catch under pressure, as well as shoot with either hand," said Paradis. "[Martin's one-versus-one] attacking skills combined with her passing accuracy make her a double threat for our opponents. She has provided stability and consistency in our midfield."
At the same time, the Jeffs' postseason play last year caught Martin's eye. "I decided to come to Amherst after seeing the Middlebury-Amherst NCAA Championship game last year," she said. "I can't tell you exactly why that made me want to come, but Amherst was the only school I applied to," Martin added.
Judging by the way the year has gone so far, both on and off the lacrosse field, Martin's choice to become a Lord Jeff has proved to be mutually beneficial. Martin began her Amherst sports legacy not in a lacrosse jersey, but rather with a squash racquet. As the number four player on the women's squash team, Martin was able to get in shape for lacrosse and make a number of good friendships. "The girls on the squash and lacrosse teams have been wonderful and I couldn't ask for a better set of friends," said Martin. "Usually it takes a while to create the friendships that [I think] are already in place."
With friendships off the field and ferocity on the field, Martin, this week's NESCAC Player of the Week, could be the team player that lifts Amherst to the national title this spring.