CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - This week marks the start of the 15th anniversary of NCAA Division III's "Division III Week." This week runs from April 7 through April 13 and along with the many events going on across campus this week, we asked Lesley University student-athletes to write a letter to Division III and what it means to them being a Division III student-athlete and what the Division III level and sport has given each student-athlete. As we wrap-up DIII Week, make sure to check out all the student-athletes letters to DIII along with the Internships Insights too. Continuing our week of Dear DIII Week letters, is Zoe Curtaz (Novato, Calif.) and Madison Reed (Burlingame, Calif.).
Curtaz had a career year for the Lynx, setting new career highs in multiple categories, including games played (20), games started (16), goals (six), assists (five), points (17), and shots (31). Curtaz recorded at least one point in nine contests last year, and in those games, Lesley was 6-1-2. Curtaz also had a stretch where she finished with multiple points in three straight games, and in those games, Lesley was a perfect 3-0-0. With her strong efforts from the past season, Curtaz was recognized as NAC All-Conference First Team honoree. She also earned a spot on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® Team for the first time in her career. In her Lynx tenure, Curtaz has played in 58 games (started in 31) and scored 13 goals while dishing out 11 assists for 37 points. She is also an NAC All-Academic Team recipient. Below is her letter to Division III:
Dear Division III,
I am so grateful that I have been afforded the privilege of competing at the collegiate level because it is such a special experience. The friendships I've built with my teammates make all the long trainings and travel days worth it - in fact, I think it is those things that I will remember best when I think about my college experience. Being thousands of miles away from home, these girls have become my family far beyond the field. I know this is the reason we find so much success as a team, and it makes our wins so fun to celebrate and the hard times so easy to tackle. Playing at this level allows me to balance playing the sport I've loved my whole life while focusing on my future goals after sports. It has shaped me into a better player and person, and given me a team of inspiring women to look to for support as we all figure out what's next.
Sincerely,
Zoe Curtaz
Reed played in nine games for the Lynx last year in 720:00 of action and finished with a career-high 31 saves, highlighted by an 11-save performance at No.3 MIT (Sept. 7). Reed also posted a save percentage of .816 and had a goals-against average of 0.88 on the year. The junior goalie also notched three shutouts, one being a conference game and ended the year with a 4-4-0 record. Overall, Reed has played in 23 games (started in 20) in 1,845:00. She has a career goals-against average of 0.78 and has made 61 stops, leading to a 14-6-0 record. Reed is also a NAC East Division All-Conference First Team member during her Lynx tenure. Below is her letter to Division III:
Dear Division 3,
Thank you for taking a chance on me. Thank you for giving my endless opportunities to experience growth on the field, in the classroom, and out in the real world. Thank you for giving me teammates that kept me up all night, kept me up having conversations that made me laugh so hard I cried. Thank you for giving me trips to new states that I would've have never stepped foot in otherwise. Thank you for giving me an outlet through sport. When everything else in my life seemed to be falling apart, soccer was the one constant in my life. Thank you for giving me coaching staff that don't just see me as another stat but see me as a person and not just an athlete. Thank you for providing me with an Athletic trainer who not only cares about our physical health but also our mental health and treats the whole person, not just our injuries. Thank you D3 for giving me a schedule that allows me to pursue roles in my future career. Thank you D3 for giving the opportunity to explore the route of coming up with creative content for our team's social media. Thank you D3 for providing me not only with my teammates, but a new family, and some of the best friends I have ever had. When I graduate next year, I can proudly say , the division 3 experience has been able to provide me with over 20+ girls that I can call my sisters. Thank you D3 for allowing me to grow from a timid, shy 18-year-old goalkeeper with little to no direction in life to a strong, confident woman who knows no matter where she ends up in life her teammates will always have her back.