Having grown up playing soccer her entire life, Franklin’s Vera Hansen decided, as she entered her senior year, that it was time to put the soccer ball into the closet and leave it there, solely focusing on her lacrosse career. 

Lacrosse was not anything new to the Panther senior. She began playing the sport back in the first grade. At the time, her older sister and brother were participating in the sport, and although she was still kicking the soccer ball around, her brother inspired her to pick up a lacrosse stick. She quickly found she enjoyed the sport, and, with her dad alongside coaching, she felt in a peaceful place. 

Eventually, her older sister would drop lacrosse for dance, but her brother continued playing the sport. When he signed to play at Quinnipiac University, Hansen thought that the concept was something into which she could get into.

“When he signed to play Division 1 lacrosse, I thought that it was the coolest thing and wanted to follow in his footsteps,” she said. “I looked up to my siblings my whole life and wanted more than anything to be like them.”

Hansen was able to follow her brother and has committed to play Division 1 lacrosse at Merrimac College in North Andover, where she will play defense for the Warriors.

“While I play midfield in high school, I will be playing defense in college,” she said. 

When she enters college in the fall, the athlete will be looking to make an impact on the team but knows that she is a freshman and in reality will not get too much playing time.

“I know that as a freshman playing for a Division 1 program that it is going to be tough to get onto the field,” Hansen said, “…if it doesn’t happen at first I will not be concerned. I am here in a new environment and looking to make new friends.”

It was around eighth grade when Hansen realized that she had a talent for lacrosse. That year, she had joined Gold Star Lacrosse, a club team headed by Franklin Head Coach Kristin Igoe Guarino. The Coach felt the young lacrosse player could become a star.

“Coach Kristin knew my skills coming in, so that took a lot of stress off of me during (high school) tryouts,” Hansen said, “I made the varsity team, but having seven seniors who would go on to play Division 1 lacrosse, I would be playing defense that year. It was ok, because I was pushed to pay at a higher level.”

When all the seniors graduated, Hansen was moved back to midfield, a position she was comfortable with, although she had to relearn the position on the varsity level. Playing midfield on the youth level was not anywhere near as intense as playing it for the high school. 

“I knew all the basics of the position, but I didn’t have the mindset,” Hansen said. “I was able to learn pretty quick, especially with Coach Kristin helping me.” 

Igoe Guarino noted that the four-year varsity athlete has definitely grown into her Panthers position over the years.

“Vera has worked extremely hard to become an impact player for us, playing all over the field. She is fast, has a high lacrosse IQ and has developed into one of our top threats on offense with her dodging and feeding abilities, the Panther Coach said, “Vera started as a low defender for us but has made a lot of improvements in her stickwork and just overall confidence with the ball. Now, she plays more midfield, and even some attack, since she is such a threat with the ball. She has learned how to dodge hard to goal in many different ways.”

While Hansen is able to put the ball into the back of the net on a regular basis, she doesn’t consider herself a leading goal scorer for the Panthers.

“I can score a good amount, but I consider myself more of an assist individual,” she said, “I like to cut through defenders and get the ball to my teammates who can score, and I am perfectly fine with that. If need be, I’ll shoot, but if someone else has a better chance, I’ll get it to them.”

Last spring as a junior, Hansen suffered a bad ankle sprain and was forced to miss time on the field, but this year she feels 100% and is ready to go out and be the best version of herself that she can be for Franklin, while pushing herself to get ready for her next endeavor – college.

Although she is looking to improve upon her game for the next chapter of her life, Hansen is, more importantly, focused on the Franklin team before she departs, hoping to again help the Panthers win the Hockomock League, like the past three years.

In addition to another Hock Title, Hansen wants to get the team further into the playoffs. Last spring, the Panthers, who were 16-2, earned themselves a number seven seed in the Division 1 Tournament where they defeated Weymouth 21-7 in the first round, but were upset by Andover in the next round 7-3.

The senior midfielder believes the team has a strong upper class with some talented underclassmen who can advance the team into the post-season this year. The Coach sees a bright athlete that should be able to push her team to success.

“She is turning into a strong leader both on and off the field, and I am looking for her to have a great season, where we will expect a lot from her,” Igoe Guarino said. “ With her speed, she might need to be on the draw circle and help us win possession. We will also look to her to be a leader on settled offense and defense, which means communication and making sure everyone is working together.”