Lauren Mengel to play soccer and lacrosse at University of Bridgeport

Boyertown Area High School senior Lauren Mengel, daughter of George and Donna Mengel of Gilbertsville, will be a busy freshman when she heads to college next year. Two weeks ago Mengel signed her letter-of-intent to play women’s lacrosse at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut.

There, she will not only play lacrosse for the Purple Knights, but she will also play soccer.

“I’m ready for the challenge,” said Mengel about juggling academics with two varsity sports. “I love to play both sports so I’m looking forward to playing at the college level.

“I chose Bridegeport because I liked the atmosphere there, and the coaches. But it also had my major which really limited my choices.”

Lauren had to find a school that had both a good soccer and lacrosse program, and offered her major of dental hygiene. That narrowed it down to U. of Bridgeport, Uconn, Pitt and Howard University.

A three-year starter on the Boyertown girls’ lacrosse team (and soon to start her fourth season), Mengel just keeps on honing her skills in the sport because she never stops working.

“She is extremely fast,” said Boyertown High’s head girls’ lacrosse coach Pam Wernersbach. “She simply outworks people to get to the ball. Add her speed to her natural athleticism and that allows her to do things others can’t do.”

In addition to excelling in two sports, she also is a good student, sporting a 3.6 grade point average. She also contributes to the community by participating in a Toys For Tots program and other Christmas charities.

Soccer is Lauren’s first love. She started playing in the Boyertown Soccer Club at a very young age, then went on through middle school and high school at Boyertown. In addition, she also played for a pair of club teams - West Mont and F.C. Delco.

In soccer, Mengel was part of a Boyertown High girls’ team that smothered opposing offenses last year. As a team, they had 17 shutouts and outscored their opponents in 2012, 53-5. It was the defense that led the way for the PAC-10 championship this past fall and finish with an overall record of 16-2-2.

“It was a great way to end my senior season,” said Mengel. “We had lost a lot of seniors from the 2011 team so it felt good to win because nobody expected much from us.”

At the University of Bridgeport, she will have an opportunity to play significant time as a freshman since there is a need for an outside back. “I’m just nervous for the whole college experience,” said Mengel. “But I think I’m ready for it. It will be an experience. I’m less nervous about playing college soccer. I’ve played lots of club soccer which is almost at the college level. I play soccer 11 months out of the year so I’m definitely ready for college level soccer.”