Building the Pitt Program: Payton Reed

PITTSBURGH – Being the youngest sister of three lacrosse players, Payton Reed always knew the sport was going to be a big part of her life. Beginning in first grade, she began learning the game and grew to love everything it had to offer.

"I love that it always challenges me," Reed said. "There's always a new skill to learn, and you get to work with your team to accomplish a goal, which I think is just awesome."

Growing up, Reed looked up to her sisters. So, when the three older girls gradually switched from playing softball to learning lacrosse, Reed followed in their footsteps. The Honeoye Falls, N.Y., native joined her school's youth program and began playing on Relentless Hustle and Lady Roc club teams as soon as she could. Reed continued playing with tougher club programs and helped her high school team earn four consecutive regional and sectional titles.

As high school was nearing its end, Reed began looking into some universities that offered Division I lacrosse programs.

"I was being recruited out of high school. I talked to a few different schools through my Lady Roc club program, but at the end of the day I decided Pitt was the school for me," Reed added. "I fell in love with the campus and the academics and thought that was where I wanted to be."

Pitt's dual major program in biology and business interested Reed and contributed to her decision to enroll in the University. While Pitt did not initially offer lacrosse at the varsity level, Reed was eager to join the highly competitive club program. She knew this opportunity could offer her intense competition and a great group of women to count on.

"When I joined the club team, I was definitely looking for a group of people that had similar interests to me, and I found some of my best friends on the team," Reed said. "I am so grateful for that. I was also looking forward to continuing to play lacrosse with such high intensity and tough competition. I love that aspect and feel like I need that in my life," she added. "I felt like club lacrosse would give that purpose to me—something to strive for."

Reed was part of the Pitt team that won the Women's Collegiate Lacrosse DI National Championship last spring, along with two of her long-time teammates: Caroline Lederman and Kierin Ratliff-Kailbourne.

Reed, Lederman, and Ratliff-Kailbourne have played with and against each other in New York, and ultimately ended up at the same university.

"I have played with them or against them for as long as I can remember," she said. "I didn't plan to go to Pitt with both of them; we all separately chose it, which is so amazing that we all just fell in love with it. Obviously, we all love lacrosse, so we joined the club team, too."

Upon arriving on campus in the fall of their freshmen year, the trio learned Pitt would be adding a varsity program. Immediately, Reed and her club teammates reached out to coach Emily Boissonneault to learn more about the team.

"I remember the day that it was posted on social media, I was sitting next to Caroline [Lederman] in class and we both were like 'wow,' I can't believe this is happening, we need to do this," Reed said. "We both knew from the beginning that it was definitely an opportunity that we had to explore, and we had to at least give it a shot."

After reaching out to Boissonneault and talking with the coaches for some time, Reed and her two teammates were offered a spot on the team. Immediately, the athletes began training with their new coaches in preparation for the difficult competition to come.

"Coach Boissonneault and coach Daniela Eppler were so hands-on and helpful and would tell you exactly what you needed specifically for you," Reed said. "It was awesome to get such personalized advice. When playing club, I could see myself implementing what they told me without really even knowing. It was great to see their knowledge, expertise, and advice being put into my game."

Entering her junior year this fall, Reed will be a leader to her incoming teammates on and off the field. And, with two years of academics and club athletics under her belt, Reed is eager to add this new task to her plate.

"I think it is going to challenge me like nothing else has in college," she said. "I'm excited to play a higher level that is going to challenge me. I am excited to put in more time. I think that with the help of Pitt, my teammates, and my coaches, we are all going to help and support each other with everything that needs to get done, both lacrosse-wise and school-wise."

Reed is ready to help build the foundation of Pitt lacrosse, regardless of the challenges building a new program may bring. "I think it's such a unique and neat opportunity because the new team is kind of like a clean slate," she said. "There are no expectations. I just think it's really cool that we can build something together and I am excited to see where it goes."

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Building the Pitt Program: Payton Reed

Players Mentioned

Caroline Lederman

Kierin Ratliff-Kailbourne

Payton Reed

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