Crockett extends impressive lacrosse career

Andrew Crockett was an unknown commodity to the lacrosse coaches at St. Anne’s-Belfield when he transferred from Midlothian High School to the Charlottesville-area private school for the 2008-09 academic year.

But it didn’t take him long to prove he belonged on the field with his talented new teammates.

Crockett, who spent his first two years of high school at Midlothian before reclassifying as a sophomore at STAB, scored a team-high 62 goals in his debut season – including three in the Saints’ state final victory.

Crockett added 58 goals last season, bringing his two-year total to 120 and placing him firmly on the recruiting radar of several Division I college programs.

After considering Cornell, Hobart and Loyola (Md.), Crockett stuck with his first choice and signed a letter-of-intent last month with Georgetown.

“Out of all the schools that offered, Georgetown had the best academics and the best lacrosse. For me, it was the total package,” said Crockett, whose family lives in the Salisbury community.

The opportunity to gain exposure to colleges (and their lacrosse teams) was one of the reasons Crockett enrolled as a boarding student at STAB in the first place.

Because Midlothian didn’t offer a Virginia High School League-sanctioned lacrosse program, Crockett was one of several local kids who played for the Richmond Shock club team.

While Crockett wasn’t sure at the time if he was good enough to play Division I lacrosse, he and his parents felt that he’d benefit from both a higher level of competition on the field and STAB’s rigorous academics.

STAB lacrosse coach Bo Perriello acknowledged he was pleasantly surprised at how seamlessly Crockett made the transition to a new school and a new team.

“We recognized pretty quickly that he had some serious skills,” Perriello said. “His desire to do well and push the other guys was very impressive.”

Perriello said Crockett is one of the most competitive players he’s ever coached.

“Whether it’s darts or ping pong or lacrosse, he’s going to work his butt off and do anything he can to win,” he added.

The results have certainly been impressive. Crockett led STAB to a state lacrosse title as a sophomore, a return trip to the state final as a junior and started at wide receiver on the Saints’ state champion football squad in the fall.

Even though he had a lacrosse scholarship in his back pocket, Crockett said he never seriously considered sitting out his senior football season to avoid the possibility of injury.

In fact, he believes his football experience has helped him be “a more physical person” on the lacrosse field.

“I take hits every game and I feel like I can handle those hits easier now,” Crockett said.

Crockett is a popular target for opposing defenders because he’s so dangerous in the scoring circle. Perriello said his shot has been clocked as high as 95 mph, and he rarely misses when he gets the ball with his hands free to pull the trigger.

Crockett downplays his scoring prowess, however, choosing instead to focus on the assists that have led to so many of his goals.

“I’ve just been very blessed,” he said. “I have great players all around me. All the goals and points wouldn’t have been possible without my teammates.”