NEW YORK — Reciprocity was at the core of Wednesday night’s USA Lacrosse Foundation Gala at Gotham Hall.
As the who’s who of lacrosse, dressed to the nines, funneled into the hall for an evening of food, drinks and camaraderie, distinguished honorees Dom Starsia and Kelly Amonte Hiller shared similar sentiments.
“The lessons that I have learned from lacrosse have helped shape my life and the person I am today,” said Amonte Hiller, the Northwestern head coach who has won eight national championships with the Wildcats. “No matter what happens on the scoreboard, through the ups and downs … the learning and the love created along the way are the true gifts of the sport.”
Now in its fourth year, the USA Lacrosse Foundation Gala was established to help fuel the growth of the sport. Over the first four years, the gala raised nearly $3 million to help support USA Lacrosse initiatives and programs.
Much like Amonte Hiller, Starsia opted to deflect the praise onto the sport and its people. While the former Brown and Virginia head coach and four-time national champion was worthy of praise himself, he said it all comes back to the stick and ball.
“I have forever told young people, ‘If you treat this game with respect, it can be your friend for a long time,’” he said. “And really, that’s what brings us here tonight.”
Both Starsia and Amonte Hiller had transformational lacrosse experiences themselves – Amonte Hiller as a ninth grader in Hingham, Mass., and Starsia as a wide-eyed freshman at Brown, where he committed to play football.
Their hope is for other young athletes to find that same transformation. Seeing it first-hand is Jen Nardi, the executive director of Brooklyn Crescents Lacrosse. She shares the same belief as Amonte Hiller and Starsia – lacrosse can change lives – and USA Lacrosse helps that happen.
“When you support USA Lacrosse, you're not just giving kids sticks, you're giving them a place to belong,” said Nardi, whose program has benefited from USA Lacrosse grants over the years. “You're helping them build confidence. And in many cases, you're opening doors to opportunities they didn't even know existed.”
Starsia and Amonte Hiller knew little about lacrosse until it was presented to them. Starsia recalled feeling the stick in his hands for the first time and knowing his life would soon change. Amonte Hiller thanked Lisa Miller, then the head coach at Thayer Academy in Massachusetts, for luring her into the sport as a high school freshman.
“I've seen firsthand how USA lacrosse helps programs not just grow, but truly thrive with their support,” Nardi said. “We've been able to reach more kids, train more coaches, and build a culture that extends far beyond the field. It's made a difference not just in how we play, but in who we are.”
Lacrosse, after all, is about people. Introduced to the podium while the song “Legends Are Made” by Sam Tinnesz blared through the halls of Gotham, Starsia was quick to denounce the idea of being a legend himself.
“For me, this evening is less a celebration of my career, which has begun to gather some dust, and more a chance to thank all my friends and family for their support throughout this life's journey,” he said.
Family taught Amonte Hiller the work ethic and appreciation for the little things that she now tries to instill in her Northwestern players.
“Waking up before school and heading to the barn to clean the stalls and bales of hay before school started, each day it was the greatest fun I had with my dad,” she said. “Every day when the work was done, we would go and enjoy a muffin together. It taught me to love the work and enjoy the moments we had together at a very young age.”
Lacrosse is a small world with generations of players directly impacted by the generation before. It inspires gratitude and generosity in giving back to the sport that’s given so much to everyone who’s picked up a stick.
“Thank you to lacrosse for giving me all you have,” Amonte Hiller said. “I will continue to give back forever. I am indebted to you. Thank you.”
The USA Lacrosse Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves as the philanthropic arm of USA Lacrosse. The Foundation helps drive the three main pillars of the USA Lacrosse mission: Fuel the Growth, Enrich the Experience, and Field the Best National Teams.
