By Chris J. Helms
Losing once to your archrival in the championship game is hard enough, but to lose twice to the same school in the same year?
Brutal.
Just ask Pinkerton senior Devan Shea, whose Astros fell to Londonderry in both the Division 1 lacrosse final (9-6 on May 11) and the Class L field hockey final (2-0 on Nov. 2).
"Yeah, I think it would have been a lot easier to lose to a different team the second time," she said with a laugh.
A National Honor Society member, Devan played both varsity lacrosse and field hockey all four years of high school.
This spring the second-team All-Class L midfielder racked up 17 goals and helped guide the Astros to a 13-3 finish.
In spite of losing to the rival Lancers, Shea was proud of what she and her teammates accomplished.
"We didn't know what to expect at the beginning of the season, but after our first few games, we were like, 'We can definitely do this,'" said Devan. "It was coach's (Bryon Murphy) goal to make us a championship-caliber team, and although I don't think we realized from the beginning we could do it, we did."
How did you get into lacrosse?
"Our town started a girls program — the Hampstead Lightning — when I was in middle school. I didn't play the first two years, but I got into it eventually. I played that for two years and entered high school and just tried out, and now I've been on varsity all four years."
What other sports do you play?
"I ran indoor track (300 meters and 4x400 relay) years but didn't do it this year because of my leg, and I played field hockey, as well. In middle school, you can play in 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades for field hockey, and my mom made me try out in 5th grade. It was terrible, I cried the whole way there! I eventually grew to like it after I made the team, and I've played varsity all four years (of high school)."
How difficult was it to lose to Londonderry in the lacrosse final?
"Our goal the whole season was to make it to the championship game. Once the time came, we were just hoping to give them a run for their money. We hung in there I think. We weren't satisfied, but it was definitely something special to make it that far."
What happened with your injury last year?
"I got a stress fracture running indoor last year, mostly just from overuse, so I had to sit out all lacrosse season last year. It was in the navicular bone in my foot. I got cleared to play field hockey the day before season started. I was in a walking boot at first but then they said I had to completely shut it down, so I was in and out of a cast for three months. I still went to all of the lacrosse practices and stuff, but it was brutal just standing there and watching sometimes. I went because it was still my team; I've played with those girls for three years, so I didn't want to miss out on it."
What's your biggest pet peeve?
"When I go to pick up my brother at places and he doesn't show up on time."
What's playing on your iPod right now?
"'I got a feeling' by The Black Eyed Peas."
In 10 years, I will be...
"...hopefully coaching something. I think that would be nice."
What's something not a lot of people know about you?
"Before every game, my mom would write me a poem on red paper. It's just a funny thing that she likes to do and she'd stick it in my bag before every game. It was mostly motivational, and funny things about me and the team."
What famous person most inspires you and why?
"Kate Barber (US Olympic field hockey team) — She's still going at it and I think that's amazing to be older (32 years old) — and still have that in you."
Do you have a summer job?
"I'm going to coach field hockey camps for my high school coach."
What one adjective would you use to describe you?
"Enthusiastic."
What are your plans for next year?
"I'm going to UNH to study engineering. You can do a million different things with an engineering degree."
Time for favorites: Sport to watch, team, athlete, food and drink, movie, music?
"Hockey; Olympic field hockey team; Kate Barber; Ben & Jerry's Phish food ice cream and chocolate milk; 'Taken'; hip/hop and rap."
