Crista Samaras
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Crista Samaras is an American former lacrosse player and coach. She played lacrosse at Princeton University, graduating in 1999, and is second on the all-time career goals and points lists. While at Princeton, Samaras was a two-time Ivy League Player of the Year as well as a three-time All American. After graduating, Samaras went on to win a gold medal in the 2001 IFWLA World Cup and a silver medal in the 2005 IFWLA World Cup.
Although Crista Samaras said she "barely made the qualifications" for attending Princeton, the athlete says she was accepted because "lacrosse was [her] hook."[1] As a freshman in 1995, Samaras was Rookie of the Year. The following year she was All-American. In her last two years at Princeton, she was named All-American two more times and was also on the NCAA All-Tournament Team twice. She was also a two-time Ivy League Player of the Year.[2] During her senior year, she received the Emily Goodfellow Award which is rewarded to a senior who “contributes to team unity, morale, spirit, and has demonstrated love of lacrosse and Princeton.”[3] Before graduating in 1999 with her bachelor's in politics, Samaras set a record of 270 points during her career which has yet to be broken.[4] Samaras said, "Princeton created roots for me in the idea that you totally embrace what you are fighting for.”[5] After graduating, Samaras returned to Princeton to train for a day before competing in the 2001 World Cup to "get in touch with her roots."[6]