“Be a goldfish.”
This quote from the show Ted Lasso means to let go of mistakes, embarrassment, or negative moments and is a saying that Anna Saucier ‘27 uses to remind herself to simply move forward, despite having never seen the show.
Known as “Sauce” to her friends and teammates, she started playing lacrosse when she was ten and has been a member of Mount St. Joseph Academy’s varsity lacrosse team since her freshman year.
Saucier is now committed to play lacrosse for York College in the fall of 2027, a goal that she has worked hard to achieve throughout her high school career.
She is the kind of player and person that celebrates the success of others before her own. Her infectious positivity and winning spirit is felt not just by her friends, but by anyone around her.
“Competitive lacrosse constantly challenges players to deal with success and failure, at any time, in practice and games. Sauce can face the challenges and keep moving forward with a positive outlook” her club coach, Tom O’Donnell, said.
She started playing lacrosse in fourth grade, but like many fourth graders, wasn’t serious about it.
“No, I hated it. Really. It was my backup sport to soccer,” Saucier said.
By freshman year, however, lacrosse had become much more important to her.
She remembers her freshman year on the lacrosse team hearing all the seniors talk about their recruitments and exciting plans to play in college. It was then that she realized she might want to do the same.
Waiting to hear from college coaches creates intense pressure for players and Saucier said she felt “a roller coaster of emotions” throughout the recruiting process.
Most of her summer leading up to her junior year was spent going to ID camps, specialized events where high school athletes have the opportunity to show their skills directly to college recruiters, and continuing to perfect her skills.
Saucier’s determination is part of what makes her such a good player. “She is very hardworking on the field, and always looking for ways to improve,” teammate Erin Romano ‘27 said.
Her willingness to try and fail, even if discouraged, is a quality that many don’t have.
“Sauce can face the challenges and keep moving forward with a positive outlook. That’s not just good for her. It’s good for her teammates, too,” said O’Donnell.
Saucier said she is excited for the opportunity to grow at the college level.
“I believe that Sauce’s best lacrosse story is not yet written. The future is bright and that is where the story will have its best chapters,” O’Donnell said.
Throughout her high school career, she has learnt many lessons from the sport, and recognizes that, “You’re a human before you’re an athlete, so you will mess up.”
In the words of her favorite show that she’s never watched, Saucier is a reminder for everyone to always “be a goldfish.”
