Photo by: Andrew Fielding
Kara Secora has had a sophomore campaign to remember after missing her freshman season due to nagging shin splints.
This season, the redshirt sophomore ranks 3rd in the NCAA with 37 assists and 4th in points, finishing with 78 total points (37 assists and 41 goals). Secora also ranks 4th all-time at DU in both single-season assists and single-season points.
Her rise to success was not an easy one as she had to watch her first season at DU from the sidelines. Last season, the Pioneers went 13-5 overall with a 6-0 record in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
The missed year did not go in vain as she was able to watch and learn from three of her teammates who are currently in the school’s record book for their career marks: Ali Flury, Karen Morton and Steph Coyne.
“I’m still trying to get to the level of Ali, Karen and Steph,” said Secora. “I have set expectations for myself in order to become the type of player that I want to be. I have met some of them, but I still have a lot of room to grow.”
Former DU midfielder Flury (2007-2010) is 1st all-time in career goals (202) and 3rd all-time in points (236) after graduating last season.
In addition to Flury, Secora got to see two players in her redshirt year – Morton and Coyne-finish 1st in school history in points and assists, respectively.
Morton is 2nd all-time in career goals with 190 goals and 1st all-time in career points with 255 points. Coyne is 1st all-time in assists with 132 career assists and is 2nd all-time with 249 career points.
“I could not practice or play in games during my freshman year so I spent a lot of time observing and asking questions,” said Secora. “I learned a lot from the three of them, I spoke to them on and off the field asking for advice and watching them play helped me learn. I saw how hard they competed on the field and all of the extra effort they put in even after practice.”
Evidently Secora’s two years of observing Flury, Morton and Coyne have paid off. Secora was named MPSF player of the week for two consecutive weeks this season.
Secora also tied DU’s single-game record with seven assists in a 10-point effort in a win over Fresno State, less than 24 hours after recording 11 points against UC Davis.
Secora has put in the necessary work for the recognition. During the summer off-season, she scrimmaged with former and current teammates, which she said allowed her to stay on top of her game.
“She works incredibly hard every day, and it is great to see someone so deserving get recognized,” said head coach Liza Kelly.
When Secora graduates, she wants to be remembered as a hard worker and have her name mentioned and compared with the upperclassmen that came before her, she said.
“They helped me a lot with my game during and outside of practices. I want to one day be compared with them,” said Secora.
The No. 2-seed women’s lacrosse team was defeated 7-4 by No. 3-seed Oregon in the semifinals of the MPSF tournament last Friday afternoon, concluding the Pioneers’ season.
In the game, Secora was held scoreless for the first time since March 9 against Vermont, in the seventh game of the season. DU lost that game as well 10-6.
Secora attended Kent Denver High School and was a three-time All-State player and served as team captain during her senior season. She also played basketball and ran cross country.
