Maryland women’s lacrosse’s Jaylen Rosga found a home away from home

Photo courtesy of Nathan Schwartz

Most Maryland women’s lacrosse players come from the east coast. But not Jaylen Rosga. 

Rosga’s journey to College Park started in her hometown of St. Paul, Minnesota, where lacrosse is far from the lifestyle it is in Maryland.

“I remember actually in some of my grad parties there were some people asking me if Maryland lacrosse was Division I,” Rosga said.

Minnesota is not exactly a friendly environment for lacrosse. The state’s high school season doesn’t start until April, and with the weather, training becomes a hassle.

“There’s snow for nine months out of the year in Minnesota,” Rosga said. “So, unless you’re getting time in an indoor facility, you’re limited.”

It wasn’t only the weather that limited the Maryland midfielder.

With the east coast being the site for most lacrosse tournaments and showcases, Rosga had to travel back and forth to get the exposure to ultimately land in College Park.

“I was gone every single weekend, traveling for lacrosse just trying to get better with my team in hotel rooms,” Rosga said. “You’re on the road constantly … but it was all worth it because now I’m here at the best place on Earth.”

Not only did Rosga come halfway across the country to play for Maryland, but she’s the first player from Minnesota to ever play for the women’s lacrosse program, a testament to her work ethic.

“I think Jay coming to us from a different background just really opens our players’ eyes to lacrosse in different areas you know but she hasn’t missed a beat,” coach Cathy Reese said. “She’s involved with everything, she’s a great leader for us on the team.”

Rosga is in fact a leader, even off the field. She partners with women’s lacrosse legend Kylie Ohlmiller in her spare time when back home to spread her love and knowledge of lacrosse through clinics for young girls from her home state.

“I wanna give every single girl that’s from a small town or a non-hotbed area, the chance and the belief that they can do it,” Rosga said. “They can go to any school that they want to, they will find a home.”

The journey to this point for Rosga was long. But having paved her own path, she’s now doing what she loves, at her second home.