GoHeels Exclusive: Women's Lacrosse Team Embraces I Play For Campaign

By Pat James, GoHeels.com

A three-time All-American who played at North Carolina from 1999-2002, Kellie Thompson Shiley embodied the traits of the women's lacrosse program, both on and off the field.

Her legacy lived on well past her playing days. So when she died unexpectedly after childbirth in July 2012, the Tar Heels dedicated the 2013 season to her. Subsequently, her memory inspired them to capture the first NCAA title in program history.

"The 2013 season was definitely a huge changing point in the trajectory of our program, and Kellie was a major part of that," said Kara Cannizzaro, a senior team captain in 2013 and currently the program's director of development and operations. "She was someone we talked about, someone we played for, and I think our team always plays for her each and every day."

Shiley isn't the only person or cause Jenny Levy has encouraged her players to play for in 23 seasons as UNC's head coach. But she's taken even more steps to ensure that this year.

In August, Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham announced Carolina Athletics' "I Play For" campaign, designed to give student-athletes and staff the opportunity to share what motivates them every day. It challenges everyone to play for someone or something bigger than themselves. And that resonated with Levy.

"When you have to sit back and think about what you really play for," Levy said, "I think it comes from the heart, and gratitude and appreciation start to come out for a cause or an individual who's impacted or influenced your life or other peoples' lives. … I think it's a great idea, and it gives people a chance to reflect and be grateful for everything we have here."

Every member of the team has considered that.

Embracing the campaign, Levy asked every player to think about who or what they play for. They then shared that with their teammates after practices this fall. The seniors went first, followed by the juniors, sophomores and freshmen.

Some players play for their parents. Others spoke about loved ones who have passed away. A few even chose similar things, as is the case with redshirt junior Caroline Wakefield and freshman Amanda Fedor, who decided to play for "those who can't play."

After missing last season with an injury, Wakefield said that experience made her think about what it would be like if she couldn't ever play college lacrosse.

"I just couldn't imagine not being on this team and not being here and not having these opportunities," she said. "And a lot of people don't. So that kind of put it into a reality for me."

Fedor also plays for those who can't play a sport because of an injury or disability. Specifically, she said she plays for Todd Mansfield, who coached Fedor at Vestal (N.Y.) Senior High School and couldn't play college lacrosse due to an injury he suffered as a child.

"He's taught me a lot of what I know now, and he's definitely part of the reason I am where I am today," Fedor said. "So I play for him because he never got the experience that I'm getting."

Levy said having each player share who or what they play for helps with team-building, a critical component of the fall season. Both Wakefield and Fedor said the results of that are evident.

"I think it really connects us all," Fedor said, "because when we're having a rough day, just an off day, we come together and say, 'Remember who you're playing for.' I think that really hits home for a lot of people. It kind of gets into your heart more, and you start to get that fire under your stomach."

Even after leading the Tar Heels to 329 wins, four Atlantic Coast Conference titles and the 2013 and 2016 NCAA championships, Levy still coaches with a similar fire. She plays for underdogs, partly because she's always viewed herself as one.

"I was never the star, and I've had a lot of people tell me what I can't do personally," she said. "But it's really not about me personally. … I think it's just about the human being and what type of opportunities they get because I think ultimately that's where grit is built, when you don't maybe have all the opportunities in the world to be as successful as other people do."

For those afforded the chance to play at UNC, they'll quickly learn of Shiley and her impact. They might even receive the Kellie Thompson Shiley Award, given annually to the player who excels in the classroom and on the field, displays outstanding leadership at all times, sets a positive example for younger players and has a true passion for the game of lacrosse.

Shiley displayed all those qualities. So did Cannizzaro, who became the inaugural recipient of the award during that memorable 2013 season. Even now, five years later, Cannizzaro still plays for Shiley.

"It's really special to have players like that in your program, and I think she exemplified what a Carolina women's lacrosse player is," Cannizzaro said. "She has left a legacy of excellence, and everyone tries to emulate her through their play and off-field performance."

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University of North Carolina Athletics

GoHeels Exclusive: Women's Lacrosse Team Embraces I Play For Campaign

Players Mentioned

Caroline Wakefield

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