PROFILE: Gabby Schneider ’23 ’24G, Lehigh Women’s Lacrosse

Is there a difference playing a varsity sport as a grad student?
Yes, there is. I definitely am trying to cherish every moment. I obviously did that all four years undergrad, but now I know I only have one season left. I'm embracing all the small things, like early morning lifts. I’m trying to view everything as a positive because I know in a few months I'm going to be missing all of it. I’m just trying to spend as much time as I can with my teammates and coaches because the time's limited, and it feels more real now.

What is your dream job?
I'm actually going back to school for another two years to become a speech language pathologist, so that would definitely be my dream job. I also would love to coach lacrosse too.

You ran cross country and track and field in high school. What other sports have you played?
Growing up, I also played basketball, soccer, and I danced.

Is lacrosse your favorite sport?
By far. I love the team aspect of lacrosse. It's not as much pressure on just yourself. [With track] you're out there running, it's only you, you can't really lean on your teammates that much.

When did you start playing lacrosse?
I started in first grade. I've been playing for a really long time. My dad coached me when I was little and all my best friends from my hometown. We all started on the same lacrosse team.

Was it acknowledged during the game or after?
It was after the game. Our coach gave a speech and gave me the game ball, which was nice.

Is becoming the all-time assists leader your greatest athletic achievement?
I think that that's definitely up there. Also, my sophomore year we played and beat Navy twice, which is the first time that's happened in program history, and we beat them in overtime. And then we made it to the Patriot League Championship weekend from that, and I was the one that made the winning assist [to get there]. So our team winning that game and me having a part in the winning goal was probably the most memorable thing. A big dogpile moment after that, we were all super excited.

Since the COVID-shortened season, the team has gone to the Patriot League Championship and then back-to-back league semifinals. Loyola has gotten in the way all three times. What's the goal for this year?
The goal, obviously, is to make it to the championship and win the championship because why wouldn't that be your main goal? But this year, it's a lot more real because we can feel it. We think that we have the personnel, we have the talent this year. We've said that in years past, but there's always doubt, and in the back of your mind, you're like, ‘We're probably going to lose to Loyola,’ as unfortunate as it is to say that.

We have a much more dynamic and athletic team this year, which I think is the only way that you're gonna match Loyola's caliber of play. And we also got a new assistant coach this year, a new offensive coordinator, and she's been super awesome, has brought a bunch of new ideas to our team. So we’re hoping that'll all come together later on in the season, we could make it to the championship and beat Loyola. And if that's not the case, play well enough during our out-of-conference games to get an NCAA bid and make the tournament.

What's one fact that people may not know about you?
I am very into cooking. I have an Instagram account called The Gluten Free Kitchen. That is my pride and joy.

Do you have a following on there?
About 700 maybe, which is good. I don't really network on it. It's just more for my own personal joy. And it's nice that my friends follow it. I have some friends that are also gluten free so they get some good recipe ideas and things like that. So it's fun.