Former BE lacrosse star preps for senior college season

It only seems like it was just yesterday that Emma Pizzo was the greatest offensive scoring machine in Palmetto State lacrosse history, leading Bishop England to three state championships.

 

Today, Pizzo is preparing for her senior year at Mercer University, hoping to build off the energy of her junior season when she was named first team all-Southern Conference as a defender.

 

“It’s crazy, I don’t know where the time goes,” Pizzo said. “It’s insane. As a freshman, I wasn’t prepared as well as I should have, and my sophomore year, the schedule was very limited because of COVID.”

 

But the third year was a charm for the Long Island native as she had an ultra-impressive season for the Bears.

 

Pizzo started in all 11 games and had impressive statistics to earn all-conference honors. She picked up 12 ground balls and caused nine turnovers. She tied personal records two times during the 2021 season, picking up three ground balls against High Point and Winthrop.

 

She also fared well in the two games against Kennesaw State by forcing a season-high two caused turnovers.

 

Her effort helped Mercer win its third consecutive SoCon championship.

 

“It was really fun,” Pizzo said of the ’21 season. “It definitely was worth it. We went six days a week in the fall; we practiced an insane amount of time because of COVID. But it was worth it for us to win.”

 

Winning was something Pizzo was used to as a member of the Bishop England LAX juggernaut, coached by Jeff Weiner.

 

She holds every major offensive record for a high-schooler in Palmetto State history. She played on state championship teams from 2016-19 and earned all-state honors four times and all-American status three times.

 

She played on BE teams that compiled a 65-6 record in her four years at the school. Her 286 goals and 214 assists are state records. She also tallied 106 ground balls, 101 caused turnovers and 139 draw controls.

 

The switch from offense to defense was a transition, a move she now relishes.

 

“I love it,” Pizzo said. “I don’t think I could go back to midfield.”

 

Pizzo excelled in the classroom at Bishop England with a 4.7 GPA and membership in the National Honor Society. While she changed positions in college, she’s still the same successful student in the classroom. She has recorded a 4.0 GPA for the last three semesters at Mercer.

 

The 2022 LAX season will be one of change for Pizzo and her Mercer teammates. The Bears will transition to the Big South Conference along with Furman University.

 

Next spring could be Pizzo’s final season. She is majoring in marketing with International Business as a minor. If she doesn’t find a job, she might choose to play a fifth year, an extra year of eligibility because of the 2020 pandemic.

 

Either way, she will have numerous memories, and they just don’t include winning, scoring or defending.

 

“It’s the people you play with,” Pizzo said. “You form that bond that lasts.”