Sunday's game against Fresno State will mark the final appearance at Kabam Field at California Memorial Stadium for the five seniors on the California women's lacrosse team - Nicole Beck, Michele DeVincent, Brynn Gasparino, Helen Hansen and Lizz Lavie. The seniors shared their goodbyes with CalBears.com.
No. 9 Nicole Beck
"Before matriculating into UC Berkeley, I was definitely nervous and intimidated. I knew it would be difficult to balance my academics with athletics, and I did not want one to be compromised because of the other. It has been difficult at times to balance both, but, through my many challenges, I have learned several life lessons that I will be able to carry with me beyond my time at Cal. As a student-athlete at Cal, I have learned how to manage my time, the importance of self-accountability, how to face and overcome adversity and numerous other life skills. My time on the team has been unique because of my injury and re-injury. Through the rehabilitation process, I have seen how important patience is and have learned to slow down, which is still a work in process. Although my last two years on the team have not been as I originally imagined them, I would not want to be spending my time with anyone else. My team and coaching staff have been incredibly supportive, and each day I grow and learn a little bit more as a result of being on the Cal women's lacrosse team. Throughout my four years at Cal, I have met the most incredible people and have created lifelong friendships. I believe that I have had an unparalleled college experience and I owe it all to my parents, who have supported me every step of the way, and to my teammates, who have have become my best friends and sisters."
No. 22 Michele DeVincent
"My immediate thoughts? Hands down the best decision I've ever made, not even a question. The crazy thing is, I didn't even know what I was getting myself into. I was naive to all of this greatness, and I think that may be one of the best parts. I was only the second person from my high school to attend Cal, so to say that I was stepping out of the boundaries of my small Pennsylvania town is an understatement. Cal brings forth opportunity that I did not know even existed. Top that off with being a student-athlete, and I've lived the best four years of my life thus far. I have an education that quite literally cannot be topped, I have surrounded myself with people that change the world, and I have made some of the most unforgettable friends. My experience as a member of the lacrosse team is priceless. There are not enough amazing words to describe the life I live every single day because it is absolutely fantastic. Easy? Definitely not. Being a part of the Golden Bear family comes at the cost of hard work, but every second is worth it. I leave this school with tears in my eyes and the greatest experience I could have ever asked for. Although it is impossible to know what the future holds, I know, with confidence, that my experience as a Golden Bear has prepared me to strive for greatness and love every minute of it because that's exactly what I've done these past four years."
No. 5 Brynn Gasparino
"I will forever be grateful to have had the opportunity to play for Cal's women's lacrosse team. The past four years have been a profound experience. I often wonder how I could be so lucky. My typical day consists of walking from my home, filled with my amazing teammates, to my second home, Memorial Stadium. After practice, I often walk down Bancroft Way, having the privilege to witness one of the most spectacular views imaginable, a view I can stare at for hours on end. In the distance, you can see the glittering blue water at the bottom of the street and the horizon, which is separated by the historical Golden Gate Bridge. As magnificent as these surface details are, the part of Berkeley that really has me in awe comes from the heart of the University, and to me that is the lacrosse team. Playing a Division I sport is much more than the three hours of practice every day. It is a rigorous commitment as well as a lifestyle. It is definitely a challenge, but one that was made possible for me because of the people by my side. The relationships that I have made during my time at Cal are something that I will cherish for the rest of my life. The team is filled with a range of personalities, which has always managed to put a smile on my face even after my most difficult exams or the worst case of home sickness. My teammates and coaches have pushed me everyday to be not only a better lacrosse player but a better person. Leaving the conventional town of Darien, Connecticut, for the diverse world of Berkeley was an extraordinary step for me. Four short years later, I am coming out a graduate from the best public university in the world, and will eternally be thankful to call myself a Golden Bear. A.A. Milne put it perfectly when he said, 'How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
No. 36 Helen Hansen
"The first time I stepped on the Cal campus I walked to the end of Sproul plaza, turned around and got back in the car. Little did I know Berkeley would be my home, my playground, my classroom and my life for the next four years. My passion for lacrosse is what brought me to Cal, my passion for Berkeley and the people in it is what's allowing me to graduate. Over the last four years, Berkeley has thrown me a handful of curve balls; a coaching transition, teammates quitting forcing me to step up and changing my major multiple times. Each presented unique difficulties yet I learned to accept the truth but never settle for the position it put me in.Senior year has given me extreme clarity about my journey as a student-athlete.The bottom line is I am proud of what I have accomplished. I can only look back and be happy I pushed myself harder than I thought was physically possible. Thinking about my fondest accomplishments and personal records, my teammates and coaches are the ones who made them possible. Though it took me four years to realize it, the people on this team are what matter the most. For me, senior year has been about being the best person I can be for the success of this team."
- From the loudest one on the team, GO BEARS!
No. 6 Lizz Lavie
"What do you mean I have to leave? Kidding, of course, but in all seriousness I can't believe that four years have already passed us by. It feels like just last week that I was moving into Clark Kerr, full of uncertainty thinking, 'What did I just sign myself up for?' Well, four years later, I finally have an answer to that question. I signed up for 30+ lifelong friends from all walks of life. I signed up for an education in one of the most beautiful and innovative cities in the world. I signed up for heartbreaking losses and brilliant wins that would teach me critical life lessons. I signed up for a degree from one of the top business schools in the country. I signed up for four years of self-discovery. Most importantly, I signed up to be a part of a legacy. Our class has been through a lot over these past four years, but I am confident that we have succeeded in our goal of building a foundation for this program based on integrity, resilience and grit. For now, all that I can leave behind are the few mentions of my name in the record books. But when my name is erased and those records have been surpassed, that is when I'll know that the foundation we built has succeeded. To quote Abby Wambach, 'I want to leave a legacy where the ball keeps rolling forward, where the next generation accomplishes things so great that I am no longer remembered.' It has been an honor and privilege to wear California across my back for the past four years and I cannot wait to watch what happens next for this team. Thanks to everyone who made the ride so great. Bears on three..."
The Bears have two games left in Berkeley this season. Cal faces Oregon on Friday, April 1, at 5 p.m. and then Fresno State on Sunday, April 3, at 1 p.m. Both games will take place from Kabam Field at California Memorial Stadium. Fans who can't make it to the game can follow on the live stream.
