The Student-Athlete of the Week profiles a different St. Bonaventure athlete each week. This feature will allow Bonnies supporters to learn more about the outstanding student-athletes that represent St. Bonaventure University.

Do you think its more mentally or physically challenging to come back from an ACL tear?
Nicole: It's definitely more mentally challenging to come back because physically I'm completely there. It's all stuck in your head about getting injured again. It's hard to get over how it happened and then have to go out and play trying not worry about it.

Knowing you had only one more year left here at Bonaventure, was that a motivational force in your rehabilitation?
Nicole: I wanted to come back as strong as I was before. I didn't want to imagine not playing or not giving my best in my final season. I've worked to get here and don't want to see it end.

You haven't shown any signs of rust since returning, but have you noticed anything different about your style of play?
Nicole: When I play I'm still lacking the confidence. I'm a lot more timid that I use to be. I don't go into groups of ground balls and try to avoid contact still.

What kind of role has your coaches and teammates played in your return?
Nicole: Everyone has been really supportive. I've talked to coach numerous times about being worried that it could happen again and he's given me a lot of positive feed back. He just let me know that I could overcome the injury and get back to where I was last year. Also, Mary Kate was a big help because she was also fighting back from the same type of injury.

You had a taste of the A-10 playoffs in your freshman and sophomore years, what does this team need to this season in order to get back?
Nicole: We have to work more off the field. Just working hard during practice doesn't cut it. We need to work off the field putting extra time on stick skills and conditioning.

Getting into some of your personal achievements, you just scored your 100th goal of your career and you're all over the record books. What do those types of things mean to you?
Nicole: The goals don't necessarily mean too much to me. Its seeing the other players that have achieved the same things that I'm doing that make me feel good. I've played with a lot of them and I know what great players they were.

Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the U.S. Are you surprised it took this long for the sport to finally catch on?
Nicole: I don't exactly know why it took so long. Where I'm from it's huge and I never knew that it wasn't a popular sport until I heard several states didn't have it.

What do you plan on doing after graduation? Any desire to coach?
Nicole: I sort of have my books open because I'm not really sure. I'm going to look for a job in advertising or sales right away but I'm not going to rule out coach. I love the sport and I'm not ready to give it up yet.