Building the Pitt Program: Caroline Lederman

PITTSBURGH – Building anything new can be a challenge. It takes hard working leaders and even harder-working players who are dedicated to putting in all the necessary work for success. For Caroline Lederman, this is the most exciting aspect of Pitt lacrosse.

While being recruited out of high school for some established programs, Lederman was looking for a university that would meet her academic, social, and athletic needs. Although Pitt had yet to announce the addition of varsity lacrosse, Lederman decided to enroll and join the highly competitive club team. However, when she arrived at Pitt the fall of her freshman year, she learned the news that a varsity program was in the works. "As soon as they announced it," Lederman said, "I knew that was an opportunity I wanted to be a part of."

Starting out her career in third grade, the Rochester, N.Y., native joined a local youth program and quickly learned to love the sport. Having also been part of travel club and high school programs, Lederman was driven to perform to the best of her abilities, always striving to participate in the most successful and competitive programs. From winning a sectional title her senior year of high school, to going on to win the 2019 WCLA Division I Championship as a freshman in college, Lederman got a taste of what it is like to win and is ready to take her lacrosse career to the next level.

After she chose the University of Pittsburgh, Lederman made the nearly five-hour move from Rochester, N.Y., to Pittsburgh, but quickly learned that she did not do it alone. Heading into her freshman year, she learned that two other athletes she competed with throughout her high school career were also attending the University of Pittsburgh: Kierin Ratliff-Kaliborne and Payton Reed.

"It's really funny to think about how long we've played with and against each other and now to see where our lacrosse careers are taking us is pretty crazy," Lederman added. The three rising juniors became fast friends in their first semester, as Lederman and Ratliff-Kalibourne decided to become roommates and spent most of their time with Reed. The three explored Pittsburgh neighborhoods and traveled to Heinz Field on Saturday's for football games. As they typically do everything together, the trio decided they wanted to help build Pitt's new lacrosse team together.

Added in the fall of 2018, the new team will compete in one of the most challenging collegiate conferences: The Atlantic Coast Conference. "It is definitely nerve wracking to be going into the ACC and playing at such a high level of women's lacrosse," said Lederman. However, it is this toughness that she looks forward to. "I'm just really excited to have a very all-in mentality. We have nothing to lose except to prove ourselves. I really trust that Coach Boissonneault and Coach Eppler are going to build something great in the upcoming years and I am so excited to be a part of the start," she added.

In March, Lederman had been working with the coaching staff and has already seen improvement. "They really broke down the game and have taught me so much," she said. Along with stick skills and cardio workouts, the midfielder has also taken time to talk with the other incoming athletes. Connecting over social media and video calls, Lederman, Ratliff-Kalibourne and Reed have gotten to see what it will be like to help lead the team.

"It was so crazy to think that they haven't yet experienced all that Pitt has to offer yet," said Lederman. "I'm so excited to meet them and finally have them in Pittsburgh." The three upperclassmen are eager to lead their younger teammates both on and off the field, hoping to show them the ropes of collegiate athletics and academics. "I think the three of us are all very similar in the fact that we want to have one big team. The team mentality is of huge importance to all of us, so it is going to be awesome to be one of the older girls on the team," she said.

Through the biggest wins and the hardest losses, Lederman's favorite part of the sport has remained constant. "My favorite part of lacrosse is the team," she said. "I've been part of some great programs with great girls and great coaches. There is so much more to get out of it than just the game itself. It's the people that I'm constantly surrounded by that really make it amazing."

Just finishing up her sophomore year, Lederman is pursuing a natural sciences degree on the pre-physician assistant track. Upon graduation, she hopes to addend PA school.

"I think the first two years I really got my feet under me. I met great people and did well in school, so now I think I'll be able to handle it all with lacrosse," said Lederman. "It won't be easy, but I know Pitt has the resources to make us better on and off the field."

Building a new lacrosse program will be a challenge.

"There will be ups and downs, but I think it is about how we recover and improve, Lederman added. "There is no doubt that Coach Boissonneault and Coach Eppler provide excellent leadership and it is an honor to be a part of the foundation of something that I truly believe is going to be great."

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Building the Pitt Program: Caroline Lederman

Players Mentioned

Caroline Lederman

Payton Reed

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