Reflecting on her lacrosse journey in advance of her induction into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, Kate Chrest Erbe came to a powerful realization about the role that the game has had in her life.
“I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that there’s not one part of my life that lacrosse has not touched in some way,” Chrest said. “It just seems to be this thread that’s woven through every aspect of my life.”
From growing up in Maryland, to attending college at Duke in North Carolina, to meeting her husband and moving to Indiana, and now, as the mother of four, coaching youth and recently taking a job as an assistant coach with the Army women’s team. Lacrosse has always been part of the picture.
“Lacrosse is like the gift that keeps on giving,” she said. “I’ve been the beneficiary of that from the very beginning.”
An outstanding high school playing career at Baltimore’s Maryvale Prep allowed Chrest to continue with the sport at Duke University. She joined the Blue Devils’ emerging program in 2002 just as the Maryland dynasty that claimed seven straight NCAA titles was coming to a close.
“I wanted to go someplace where I could help a different team compete for a national championship for the first time,” Chrest said.
She played a significant role in leading Duke to the postseason as a freshman and sophomore, but Chrest’s big breakthrough came in 2005, when she set new team records with 70 goals and 96 points. Chrest was recognized as the national attacker of the year and won the 2005 Tewaaraton Award as the nation’s most outstanding player.
“That season, 2005, was really special because we spent so much time off the field developing chemistry and leadership and building our team up,” Chrest said. “During my time at Duke, that was when we turned the corner and caught a glimpse of how good we could be.”
Chrest was the ACC’s Player of the Year in both 2005 and 2006.
“The 2005 ACC Championship is a core memory for me. We finally saw all of our hard work come to fruition,” Chrest said. “Everybody on that team felt like they were a big part of the success that we had. Winning the ACC Championship meant a lot. Those teams, in 2005 and 2006, are the ones that I feel closest to at Duke.”
Her great memories of being a Blue Devil go far beyond the wins and losses.
“Springtime at Duke is such a special time. I remember going out on the field in March and April and it’s just so warm and sunny, and just shooting around with teammates in bare feet with music going and just loving being there. Those are some of the best memories I have.”
Chrest joined the U.S. women’s national team program during her freshman year at Duke, and became a member of the training team for the 2005 World Cup. That achievement gave her plenty of confidence heading into her outstanding 2005 college season.
“The whole experience of playing with the top players in the country and practicing with them and learning from them really propelled me into that season,” she said.
Although Chrest didn’t make the final 2005 World Cup roster, the experience did set the stage for her presence on the 2009 World Cup team. There was almost complete turnover on the U.S. roster prior to the 2009 championship, and Chrest had to survive a grueling try-out process to claim her spot. Once she did, she served as a bridge, of sorts, between two different eras in the history of the U.S. women’s program.
“Making the team was one of my dreams and one of my goals,” Chrest said. “I will never forget sitting in the room once the final roster was announced, and having such a fulfilling feeling.”
Accepting any role she was asked to play on the 2009 team, Chrest became a key contributor that helped the U.S. reclaim gold in Prague after finishing as the championship runner-up in 2005.
“We were a bunch of new players that year and really grinded it out to come home with the gold. Going to Prague was the trip of a lifetime, and I had incredible teammates. It was a special time.”
Tickets
Tickets are now on sale for the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, hosted by USA Lacrosse on Saturday, January 6 at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel. All tickets must be purchased online in advance. Tickets include open bar, hors d'oeuvres, dinner, and dessert. The event begins with a cocktail reception, sponsored by Axia Time, at 5 p.m.
