Senior Breda Holland didn’t even want to get out of the car when her mom took her to her first lacrosse practice at seven-years-old. Her mom had to force her out of the car and onto the lacrosse field by telling her she wouldn’t be allowed to go with the family on their next vacation unless she played.

“That’s all it took,” Holland said. “Being an awkward 7-year-old, it was pretty scary going out there, but I’ve been in love with it ever since I started. I thank my parents for that.”

Holland’s older sisters Kaitlyn and Maeve, and her younger brother Sean all play as well, so the siblings constantly push one another to get to the next level or just have fun playing the game together at home.

“We all had that one thing in common so it really helped and still helps bring us together,” Holland said.

When Holland, who is an attack, thinks of her athletic career both with Londonderry High School Athletics and outside organizations, she is constantly reminded of how it has opened so many doors for her.

“Freshman year was such a big change for me, and I knew it was the perfect time to get involved, so I would have a more structured schedule,” Holland said.

Holland also played basketball at the time and as much as she loved the sport, she knew that she wanted to recruited by a college for lacrosse and had to make the tough decision to walk away.

“Since basketball is such a long season, it was hard to stay 100% motivated when all I thought about was lacrosse,” Holland said. “It had nothing to do with the coaches, people, or the program. I just had a different vision.”

Off the field, Holland’s teammates refer to her as a role model and a good friend, which is one of many reasons she has proven to be such a strong captain.

“She’s always someone everyone can look up to and she always wants best for the team,” said senior co-captain Gabbi Morris. “She is someone people feel very comfortable talking to and is consistently a great friend.”

Senior co-captain Emily Davison sees Holland as a powerful force on the team.

“[Holland] is very vocal and always keeps the team in check when we walk onto the field,” Davison said.

Holland feels lacrosse has affected her life on many levels.

“Making varsity as a freshman opened so many doors for me,” Holland said. “I had the privilege of meeting some amazing people from this sport, and playing alongside [my sister] Maeve my freshman and sophomore year was great. This sport has really made me who I am.”

Choosing to continue her athletic career, Holland has been given the opportunity to play for the Saint Anselm College girls’ lacrosse team in Manchester, New Hampshire, with an academic scholarship.