Dolce, Humphrey Share Darien Roots and Future Vision

This past summer, Shea Dolce and Chloe Humphrey — the only college players on the U.S. Women’s National Sixes Team — spent two weeks together as roommates while helping the United States capture the gold medal at The World Games in Chengdu, China.

In between practices, games, cultural excursions and their undefeated run to gold, the two first-team All-Americans spent some of their down time reminiscing about their respective lacrosse journeys. The fact that so much of their history overlaps and is centered on their shared youth and high school experiences in Darien, Conn., made the conversations that much more enjoyable.

“Darien is small, and you just know everyone,” Humphrey said. “I remember when Shea’s family moved to town from Chicago. From the beginning, she and I connected immediately. We just wanted to make each other better.”

The connection for Humphrey and Dolce started in the Darien youth rec program, continued with the CT Grizzlies club and then included three seasons as teammates at Darien High School’s powerhouse program.

While Dolce is a year older and was always a grade ahead of her younger friend, they still spent a lot of time together because coaches often had Humphrey play up a year due to her talent level.

“I was so much shorter than everyone else, but that’s how I got introduced to Shea and all the others that were a bit older than I was,” Humphrey said. “They were so great, and I was able to foster relationships with those girls and become friends, which gave me an advantage going into high school.”

With Dolce anchoring the defense as the rock-solid goalie and Humphrey starring as a sophomore on attack, Darien captured the 2021 state championship. Beating arch-rival New Canaan in the state semifinal that season was one of the highlights the roommates fondly rehashed during their time in China.

“We had so much fun celebrating that win together, and I still remember sprinting back to her at the end of that game,” said Humphrey, who won a second state title as a senior in 2023. “Being able to win the state championship with Shea that year showed me what the standard is at Darien and how we can keep it going.”

Dolce credits the Darien culture created by Hall of Fame coach Lisa Lindley for helping to shape her into the player she has become.

“We had such high expectations and the goal of winning all the time, and that really got us ready for playing at the next level,” Dolce said. “The way we were coached at Darien, we got a taste of college while we were still in high school. It was a super experience.”

Since leaving Darien — Dolce graduated in 2022 and Humphrey in 2023 — both players have been instrumental in leading their respective college teams to national championships.

Dolce’s celebrated kick save in the waning seconds of the 2024 NCAA final against Northwestern preserved Boston College’s 14-13 championship victory and is forever remembered around Chestnut Hill as simply “The Save.”

This past spring, Humphrey set an NCAA freshman record with 90 goals and became the first freshman winner of the Tewaaraton Award while leading North Carolina to the 2025 national crown.

She was named the NCAA tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

Their individual successes come as no surprise to Lindley, who has piloted the Darien dynasty to 19 state and conference championships and over 500 wins since taking the reins in 1994.

“What really sticks out for both of them for me was their work ethic,” Lindley said. “I don't think people realize how much they put into their craft.  Yes, they've been successful, but they've also worked very hard behind the scenes to get to the level that they're at now. I give them a lot of credit for that.”

Lindley also points to another shared attribute that drives both players and continues to fuel their remarkable achievements.

“I would also say they're both incredibly competitive, and that's something I feel like you have to have in order to reach the level that they're playing at now,” she said. “I have a saying, ‘eat or be eaten,’ and if you don’t have that mentality, you could end up doing nothing in your career.”

Dolce, who led the country in both total saves (202) and save percentage (.550) in 2025, admits that her competitive edge goes far beyond the playing field.

“That’s always been a part of me. I’m just really competitive in all aspects of life,” she said. “I always want to be at my best, whether it’s a game or practice, and I use that in order to help my teammates be their best.”

Having now played in back-to-back international competitions — Dolce also earned All-World honors as a member of the world champion U.S. Women’s U20 squad in 2024 — the Boston College senior is motivated for what may be waiting after her final collegiate campaign.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about the Olympics in 2028,” Dolce said. “Hopefully, I’ve put myself in the best position possible, although my focus right now is to go out with another championship at BC.”

Of course, in order for Dolce to end her college career the way she envisions, she may have to lead her team past a familiar friend — and foe. Humphrey is intent on claiming the same prize.

“No doubt, I’m focused on hoisting three more national championship trophies at UNC in the next few years,” the sophomore said with a smile.

Like Dolce, Humphrey acknowledged that she likes to peek at what could be waiting in 2028. Both players admit that the subject came up once or twice during their roommate chats in China.

“Being an Olympian is a label that just about every athlete strives for, so to be in consideration for that roster is a pinch-myself moment,” Humphrey said. “That was a topic of discussion in our hotel room, about how incredible it would be to be on that 2028 roster. Hopefully, one day it will come true.”

Lindley won’t be surprised to see both Dolce and Humphrey wearing red, white and blue as part of LA28.

“Shea’s level of play just keeps improving each year and with her, there’s always this steady climb upward,” Lindley said. “And Chloe has just scratched the tip of the iceberg in terms of what she’s capable of. They both bring a lot of notoriety to the sport, and I like what they are doing in terms of building and growing the game. They are good representatives as young women for our sport, for sure.”