Travel lacrosse in 5th grade. Captain her junior year. On December 1st 2024, East Islip Senior Alyssa Charles committed to Division 1 Howard University’s Lacrosse team on a full ride scholarship.
She proves that many years in a sport leads to a good outcome. Dedication and self confidence helped Alyssa become the person she is. She was captain her junior year of high school and likely will be for her senior year. So many people are proud of her and her journey to Howard.
Alyssa started playing on a travel team when she was just in 5th grade. There was some discussion between her parents about whether it was too early to put her in a league, but in the end they decided to put her in. She started playing with Team 91 – Orange Fury, which was #2 in the country. That is when her parents and Alyssa realized that she was not just good, but great at what she does.
When Team 91 broke down, she had to join the Yellow Jackets. Alyssa expresses that “it was a terrible team, everyone was so rude.” She only lasted a year until she found her home on the Long Island Legacy 2025 Blue.
After years of playing with Legacy, she started to get recruited during her junior year. It was overwhelming and exciting at the same time for Alyssa. Coaches were contacting her, looking her up on rosters and social media, and watching her films. There were many coaches from different universities and colleges such as Stonehill College and Merrimack College reaching out to Alyssa. It was a one of a kind experience and unreal to say the least. There was a time when she felt like she wasn’t good enough. Her source of motivation was her inner voice telling her “I can.”
After many Zoom meetings, college tours, and conversations with coaches, she finally decided on a school: Howard University. She says that she felt a connection to Howard and it pulled her in. Since Howard University is an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges & Universities), she mentions that “It will be a new experience for me. I will be in touch with my culture and find out new things about myself.” When she starts at Howard that will be her first year playing with girls who look just like her.
Alyssa shows that it is not only good if you motivate yourself, but you also benefit with your parents’ support. Both her mom and dad are super proud of Alyssa. She was motivated by their achievements too, since they both went to college with a full ride scholarship. Her dad played lacrosse throughout high school and college and that is where Alyssa’s spark of interest for the game came from.
“I wouldn’t have done anything different,” Her mother Coleen said. “I am beyond proud of her and happy she found a college she loves.”
Not only her parents are proud of her, but also her friends and teammates including her teammate on the lacrosse team, Emily McIntee. “Howard is not ready for the baddie who’s coming,” she said.
Next year, when Alyssa walks into the campus of Howard University in Washington D.C. she will remember and appreciate all the things she did to be there and find so much success.