Setbacks Have Never Slowed UMass Attacker Kassidy Morris

Kassidy Morris’ resume is quite impressive — 225 career goals, 68 assists, All-American honors, Conference Player of the Year recognition and much more. She is third among active Division I players in career goals.

But her story goes far beyond statistics and accolades. It’s a story of grit and determination, all for the love of lacrosse.

When Morris was in the seventh grade, she was told by doctors she would never play sports again.

“I was diagnosed with a back condition in the seventh grade, Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis, which is a fracture of the vertebrae as well as a separation,” Morris said. “I broke my L3, L4 and L5 vertebrae, and I was in essentially a full body cast for around nine months. Neurosurgeons wanted to fuse my vertebrae back together.”

Morris lost feeling in her legs.

“It was the hardest time of my life, because all I knew was lacrosse and knew I wanted to play in college,” she said.

Morris quickly became determined to prove the doctors wrong.

“I would do rehab way more than they were even telling me to,” she said. “The exercises they were saying to do twice a day, I was doing five times a day.”

Morris received plenty of support from her parents and sister, Hannah, who is a physical therapist.

In the end, Morris defied the odds and returned in February 2019. In her first year back, she helped Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School in Orillia, Ontario, to the state championship game.

In any way you look at it, Morris has come a long way to UMass. She started playing box lacrosse in Canada when she was 3 years old.

“My dad played in college, so he had me in the front yard playing,” Morris said. “Ever since I picked up a stick, I knew lacrosse was what I loved and wanted to do.”

She watched her sister, who is three years older than her, grow up with the sport. That opened her eyes to the possibility of heading to the United States for college.

Morris’ family are also big travelers who would gravitate toward the East Coast, so it was only fitting that on September 1 of her junior year (when college coaches can begin reaching out), UMass head coach Jana Drummond was the first person to text her.

“The coaches came to our home in Canada, which meant a lot,” Morris said. “And as soon as I stepped on campus at UMass, I knew this was where I wanted to be.”

It was clear early on how impactful Morris could be. But an early decision to redshirt wasn’t the easiest to grapple with in the short term, but it was best for the long run.

“Coming back after COVID, we had a lot of fifth-years,” she said. “The coaches brought up the possibility of redshirting, then if I was to take my fifth year, I would be able to get my master’s while also being an impact player.”

It was difficult at first, but Morris knew it was the best decision for the long-term outlook of her career.

“I loved the idea of being here for an extra year,” she said. “I love this place.”

Morris has certainly made UMass “her second home.” She posted 38 points in 2023 (32 goals, six assists), 79 in 2024 (63 goals, 16 assists) and 101 last season (78 goals, 23 assists). Morris’ 225 goals are a program record.

“I was always a goal scorer and a driver,” she said. “I needed to grow in many other areas of my game, like having my head up when dodging. I also had to work on the ride. When there’s a turnover, being able to drop back and play defense right away.”

Goals aren’t unimportant either. Morris will never forget her first collegiate goal on Feb. 11, 2023, against UMass-Lowell.

“My captain Amy Moreau picked me up,” Morris said. “I literally have chills thinking about it to this day.”

Morris’ role changed this fall after suffering a significant ankle injury right before the Atlantic 10 tournament last May.

“I knew something bad happened, but our team was having such a great year,” Morris said. “Going into conference championships, I knew that there was nothing more I needed to do than be on the field.”

Morris gutted through the end of the season, which included five goals and two assists in the Atlantic 10 semifinal at Richmond, then got an MRI after the NCAA tournament.

“It came back that I had ruptured and severed three ligaments in my foot, as well as a tendon tear,” she said. “The doctors said I would be out for 10-12 months if I got surgery.”

Morris feared her fifth year would never happen.

“I came into Jana’s [Drummond] office bawling my eyes out, because it was definitely a ‘holy crap’ moment,” she said. “That’s where I feel like gratitude can come in, because it’s easy to not want to go to practice on a given day because you’re too tired. But you don't realize how fast things can blow up in your face.”

Along with UMass ramifications, Morris knew she wouldn’t be able to suit up for Team Canada over the summer summer, as she had been invited to the Pan-American Games in Florida.

To no one’s surprise, Morris stayed as determined and focused as ever to return.

“My surgeon said it was the worst tear she had ever seen and I was very lucky to even be walking,” Morris said. “When I went back for my first post-op appointment, my first question was about when I could be back on the field.”

That question came when Morris was still on crutches and about eight weeks away from even putting weight on that foot.

“My surgeon said I wouldn’t be back until the end of April, if I’m lucky, for conference championships,” Morris said.

But like her previous injuries, Morris’ goal was to get back to the game she loves as early as realistically possible.

“I was told to do physical therapy twice a week and I went in four times a week,” she said.

As she was rehabbing, Morris also took on a different role as a leader on the sidelines in the fall.

“I was able to zoom out and be that support system for everyone on the field,” she said. “Teammates would come to me with questions about things like offensive sets and knowing where they should be.”

After the disappointment of not being on the field, Morris remembered what UMass women’s lacrosse is all about. So, she channeled her energy toward doing what the team needed of her.

In that moment, it was being a veteran leader from the sidelines.

“I really needed to work on my leadership, and this fall was so much fun celebrating everyone’s goals on the sidelines,” Morris said. “That was my role, but it didn't stop me from pushing myself to get back onto the field.”

Morris was cleared to run at the end of November. She kept working in December while home. Her sister helped out, just like she did the last time her lacrosse career was in peril.

“I came back to UMass on January 7 and had a meeting with my surgeon,” Morris said. “She said, ‘I don’t know how you did it, but you’re good. You can go back, with no contact.’ I called my dad crying, and Jana was my second call.”

Morris brings so much to the field, but the core of her value isn’t her skills or talents as a player.

It’s her love for the sport.

“Kass’ love for the game is electric and contagious on the field,” Drummond said. “She’s a joy to coach with how much fun she has playing the game. Kass is always having a blast in every drill, talking about other lacrosse games and chalk talking to advance her and the team’s performance. Her one-liners, laughter and celebrations keep the tension at ease.”

About two-thirds into her redshirt senior season, Morris’ UMass story isn’t over just yet. Individually, she is up to 73 points through 13 games (52 goals, 21 assists) and is a four-time MAC Offensive Player of the Week.

As a team, the Minutewomen are searching for a MAC championship in their first year in the conference and vying to return to the NCAA tournament.

Morris hopes to suit up for Team Canada this summer, too.

“I just made it to the second tryout in June for the World Championships in Tokyo,” she said.

Whether it’s in the front yard as a youngster, at UMass or on the international stage, Morris’ love for the sport shines bright.

“I often remind myself to appreciate how I’m out here with my teammates, just throwing the ball around like I’ve done since I was 3 years old,” she said.

And lacrosse has set Morris up for a lifetime of success, no matter what she does.

“Kass’ ability to manage adversity, her positive mindset and dedication to what she sets her mind to is how she approaches anything in life,” Drummond said. “It comes to no one’s surprise she has done that in lacrosse, too. It has been an honor to witness how lacrosse has impacted her in such a monumental way.”