UWLX giving former Souhegan lacrosse star another chance to shine
McKinley Sbordone thought her lacrosse career came to a close on Boston University’s Nickerson Field in 2010.
A few years later, however, the Amherst native and Souhegan High School graduate is a professional lacrosse champion and looking to win another.
“It’s been an amazing experience and so much fun,” said Sdordone on Saturday at Harvard, where her Boston Storm played in the United Women’s Lacrosse League semifinals. “I get to play with amazing players and learn new things and continue to play the sport I love.”
Sbordone was a member of the 2016 champion Long Island Sound, but after a 13-10 victory over Philadelphia on Saturday, Sbordone and her Boston Storm will be looking to usurp last season’s victors for the title.
But the former Souhegan standout didn’t always know there would be more lacrosse in her future.
“I knew lacrosse has been continuing to grow but I didn’t think I could experience it in my lifetime,” she said. “It’s been pretty cool to play in college then after a couple of years sitting out.”
Since joining the Storm in 2017, Sbordone has emerged to be the team’s leading scorer after being primarily a bench player with Long Island.
As a member of the Storm, however, she has been able to team up with former BU players such as Sarah Dalton and reignite that chemistry.
“It’s one of the biggest differences this year,” she said. “We play to win but have so much fun. To play with my friends is so special.”
The UWLX is a traveling league, but there have been four tournaments this season in Massachusetts, close to home for Sbordone, who is also a coach with Granite State Elite Lacrosse and an assistant manager at Hampshire Hills in Milford.
“It’s been really fun playing locally, and a lot easier on my life,” she said. “There’s a lot of people I played against. It makes it more exciting when I see my GSE players and my family and friends.”
Sbordone has made history in her time in the UWLX, being the first player to ever score a two-point goal in women’s lacrosse, and she was a member of Team USA in 2009 and 2010. She was a four-year starter with Souhegan, where she earned all-state honors every season and served as the captain for the lacrosse and field hockey teams.
Even several years later, Sbordone still has that ability she showed on the field in Amherst.
“Just having fun, letting the ball do the work and play off my teammates,” Sbordone said. “Our team has worked really well together, by default everyone has success.”
How much time is left for Sbordone on the field? Enough to try to take home a title for Boston.
“I’m towards the end of my career, but it’s been an amazing, amazing experience,” she said.
The Storm will take on the Long Island Sound in the UWLX championship game Wednesday at 1 p.m. in Lake Placid, N.Y.
