After Tough Decision, Comets Alum Nonn Excelling in College Lacrosse

Catonsville lacrosse and soccer star Jessica Nonn had mulled over her impending decision for much of the last three years.

Nonn, who had just finished her junior year at Catonsville, had begun to establish herself as a highly sought-after recruit very early in her Comets career, in both lacrosse and soccer. But while she received substantial interest for both sports, Nonn knew even before her freshman year at Catonsville that she would one day have to decide between the two, in terms of what she would pursue at the collegiate level.

And while soccer had been her first love, and despite that she actually felt more confident as a soccer player at that point of her life, she received more interest from colleges for lacrosse, which was ultimately the determining factor in her decision to pursue lacrosse at the collegiate level .

Yet as tough of a decision as that was to make at the time, and as much as she misses soccer, Nonn looks back now, four years later, and couldn’t be happier with her choice.

Nonn was named Catonsville’s team MVP in lacrosse as a senior in 2008 after scoring 58 goals while leading the Comets to a regional championship as well as a berth in the Class 3A-4A state semifinals.

She also earned first-team All-County honors in soccer during both her junior and senior seasons.

“My decision came down to what sport schools were looking at me more for,” said Nonn, currently a junior at Virginia Tech, who committed to the Hokies during the summer leading up to her senior year at Catonsville in 2007. “And I definitely got recruited more for lacrosse. It was horrible to give up soccer, and I was really, really upset that I had to give it up, but I absolutely love playing at Virginia Tech, so I don’t regret anything. And I’m extremely happy that I came to a school where I could make an impact as soon as I got here, and I’m just really enjoying myself.”

With the Hokies, Nonn, a midfielder, has started every game since she arrived in 2009. She led the Hokies in ground balls (34) and caused turnovers this past season while also ranking second on the team in both goals (38) and points (50).

She has tallied at least 33 goals during each of her three years at Virginia Tech and has led the Hokies in ground balls during each of those three seasons. She has led the team in caused turnovers during each of the last two.

“Whether it’s causing turnovers, coming up with ground balls or putting the ball in the back of the net, she can do it all,” said Virginia Tech coach Megan Burker, a Baltimore native. “She’s just a fiery player that brings a lot of speed and a lot of athleticism. She has a scoring mindset and she’s committed to putting the ball in the back of the net. And on defense, she’s always looking to make things happen.”

And Burker is actually expecting Nonn to step into an even bigger role as a senior next year, hoping for her to help offset the loss of seven seniors from this year’s team, including top scorer Allie Emala (43 goals, 59 points).

Nonn, meanwhile, is just focused on doing whatever she can to help the Hokies, who finished this past season 10-8, build on their first winning season since 2000 and continue establishing themselves as a legitimate contender in the ACC.

“I’m really excited that we’re moving in the right direction as a program,” Nonn said. “And I would love to be able to post another winning record and just continue to prove that Virginia Tech lacrosse is worth watching and that we’re improving so much. I don’t want us to be viewed as the doorstep of the ACC anymore.”