Women's Lacrosse | July 25, 2018

PHILADELPHIA – La Salle University women's lacrosse assistant coach Allyson Heavens, a four-year starter during her playing days at Penn State University, hit the field this summer to play professionally in the Women's Professional Lacrosse League (WPLL). Heavens not only achieved her dream of being a professional lacrosse player, but she also helped the New England Command win the inaugural WPLL Championship.
 
It was the league's very first season, and Heavens had the opportunity to continue her stellar lacrosse career after being selected by the Command in the inaugural WPLL draft last fall.
 
"As a little girl you dream of being a professional player when you grow up, and now that dream can finally come true in the sport of lacrosse," Heavens described. "Seeing my name on the screen being selected for the New England Command team was an honor, and I am forever grateful for this opportunity."
 
The league consists of five teams: New England Command, Baltimore Brave, New York Fight, Philadelphia Fire, and Upstate Pride. In order to be chosen in the draft, Heavens had to apply for the draft selection. For Heavens, it was an easy decision to apply.
 
"I decided to apply because my love for lacrosse is not over, and I do not think it will ever be," she explained. "In 2016, I came off of an amazing season at Penn State University competing in the NCAA Final Four, and getting the opportunity to continue my career professionally means everything to me."
 
Heavens was a standout midfielder at Penn State, where she played in 81 games and had 38 goals, ten assists, 81 ground balls and 60 caused turnovers. During her time in Happy Valley, the Nittany Lions won the first-ever Big Ten Championship during Heavens' junior season and reached the national semifinals during her senior campaign.
 
After coaching on the La Salle staff this past spring, Heavens turned her attention to playing once again, this time in the WPLL. With the Command, she teamed up with two of her former Penn State teammates along with players she used to compete against in college.
 
"As the season went on, we learned more of each other's tendencies, and our chemistry grew as a team," Heavens described. "This definitely led to our success in the championship. We had energy and we worked very well together. It was awesome to see all of us come from different teams and backgrounds and play as one."
 
The Command went 3-1 over the four-game regular season and then defeated the Upstate Pride in the semifinals to set up a rematch in the championship with the team that handed New England its only loss, the unbeaten Baltimore Brave. In a thrilling, back-and-forth championship tilt, Heavens and the Command battled for a 12-11 victory to capture the inaugural WPLL crown.
 
"It was amazing to meet so many amazing people who share the same love of lacrosse," Heavens continued. "We all play because it shaped us into the women we are today and has given us so many amazing opportunities. I definitely plan to return next season, and I look forward to being with my new teammates again and to continue the growth of lacrosse in the professional world."