Fieldston’s Lacrosse Program, one of the most competitive and popular, welcomed new lacrosse coach Aleya Corretjer to the team this spring. Corretjer has an extensive background in lacrosse and began playing for North Rockland High School in Rockland County, NY. When asked to describe her own style of playing during those high school years, she admitted “I was (defiantly) a little bit more of a hothead than growing into the player I was when I finished my career. As an athlete, I was always a producer; a player who wanted to be involved in the play and finish the games with a W.” Driven by a relentless desire to win and pure passion for the sport, Corretjer continued her pursuit of lacrosse after graduation.
Before joining as Fieldston lacrosse coach, Corretjer was a student-athlete at Pace University in Westchester, New York. She joined the lacrosse team and played at the college level through her final year in 2023. It can obviously be bittersweet when things end, especially a college career, but Corretjer finished her stint by winning a national championship. To Corretjer, this victorious experience further enables her to clearly communicate what it takes to put a winning team together at Fieldston.
Corretjer grew up in a family household where sports were always a priority. As a kid, she recalls bouncing from one practice to another, exploring a variety of sports like softball, soccer and basketball. Having a varied body of athletic experiences at such a young age made Corretjer “prepare for the variety of ways of pushing myself.” She adds, “Being an athlete you can always get better. Never be comfortable where you are with your skill level. Always want more. Being an athlete, it shows and your hard work pays off.” So what does this seasoned coach hope to see in the future for the Fieldston lacrosse team?
According to Corretjer, everyone needs to understand that joining a lacrosse team means that you have essentially signed up to collaborate with over 20 other people with similar mindsets. While Fieldston is a school all about community, “being part of a team provides a community that understands each other in a way you might not find outside of sports. They understand sports are more than just putting a ball in a net or throwing a ball, it’s teamwork, hard work, loyalty and so much more.” Corretjer is banking on the fact that her approach and passion for the sport become contagious.
So, what does it take to be a part of a winning team and a great lacrosse player? If you ask Corretjer, the most important part of the game is “stickwork.” Like a basketball player practices shooting baskets or a hockey player hitting pucks into a goal over and over again, to be able to catch, throw and handle the ball is to master the game of lacrosse itself. Stickwork is also something that you can practice pretty much anywhere. Corretjer encourages her players to “work on being a confident player. Confident with the ball. Confident with yourself. Taking the good things you do each day and building them up and up, you’ll see there’s no reason to doubt your abilities or yourself…”
