Two-sport spring standout Breyer Fenech helping Haslett-Williamston lacrosse build off record season

Breyer Fenech had dabbled in lacrosse during her youth days.

But she wasn't completely sold on the sport upon her arrival into high school. She had planned to make soccer her choice for a spring activity.

That changed as Fenech was urged to also continue on in lacrosse.

Fenech decided to do just that. And now the Williamston senior is set to follow in the footsteps of her older brothers Griffin and Logan and play lacrosse in college.

"It kind of took a while (to come to that decision)," Fenech said. "I knew I wanted to play a college sport, I just wasn't sure if that was soccer or lacrosse. After watching both my brothers go the lacrosse route and seeing their passion for it, it kind of lit a fire in me to want to do the same."

Fenech, who will continue her lacrosse career at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, has made a major impact on the Haslett-Williamston lacrosse program the past three seasons while aiding its rise into a top program in the area and one of the best in the state.

Fenech was a second team all-state selection last season while helping Haslett-Williamston set a program record for wins and claim a share of the CAAC title for the first time in program history.

This spring, Fenech has helped Haslett-Williamston build on that success with a No. 8 state ranking in Division 2 and an 8-2 record entering its Thursday matchup against East Lansing. Fenech, who was voted the latest LSJ high school athlete of the week for April16-22, hit a milestone last week by surpassing 100 career goals during a CAAC victory over Holt.

Fenech reached the milestone by scoring a career-high nine goals, which is tied with Lansing Catholic's Lead Reid for the most in a single game by a Greater Lansing player according to the Michigan High School Athletic Association's online records. She has 38 goals this spring, which is one shy of her single-season varsity best.

"The growth I've seen from her first season as a sophomore to where she's at as a senior has been just amazing to watch," Haslett-Williamston coach Chad Pastor said. "Her abilities have grown leaps and bounds. She's such a dedicated player. I was never sure how it would shake out with her because she's always loved soccer, but she's always loved lacrosse, too.

"Seeing her being out there for her senior season and being able to step up and take control of the game and hit (a milestone) she has been wanting to hit for a while is amazing."

Even as Fenech has continued to grow in lacrosse, she's done the same on the pitch and been a factor for Williamston. She scored the game-winning goal in the Division 3 state championship game last season and has contributed to a 4-2-1 start for the No. 4-ranked Hornets.

Fenech said it has been a challenge managing both with long nights of practice and juggling games. She's grown accustomed to her busy schedule and has appreciated the coaches helping her manage being a dual-sport athlete.

Pastor has been impressed with how Fenech has performed at a high level in both.

"She shows up, she works her tail off and I don't think a lot of players have that kind of endurance to do it or have that mental stamina to go from one sport to the next and then switch gears," Pastor said. "There's similarities with the sports, but it is a little bit of a shift from how we play comparatively to how the soccer team plays."

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Williamston's Breyer Fenech making big mark in lacrosse, soccer