Glastonbury's Sam Forrest Back On The Lacrosse Field At UNC

CHAPEL HILL, NC — Sam Forrest was all smiles as she left Dorrance Field following the University of North Carolina's home-opening 19-6 win over Liberty. The Glastonbury High School graduate didn't play against the Flames, but she also wasn't limping.

Alas, Forrest was finally cleared for game action going forward after a hip injury.

"I love it here and I'm really looking forward (the the next game), coming off hip surgery," Forrest said. "I'm ready to play."

Forrest said she has been taking the injury thing in stride.

All had been going well for the 5-foot-5 defender. As a freshman in 2022, Forrest played in eight games for UNC and, in her Tar Heel debut against Furman, she had two draw controls and grabbed a ground ball. She also recorded a ground ball against Duke and had draw controls against Virginia Tech, Pitt and Virginia.

Draw controls are key to both game tempo and serving as a catalyst for offensive transition.

As a sophomore in 2023, Forrest was a key player off the bench in the first two games of the year before the hip injury cut her season short. She was thus redshirted.

Forrest described the injury as a genetic disorder — hip dysplasia — that led to a torn labrum. She underwent surgery and an intense rehab period with a touch of irony — it took place at heated rival Duke.

"Yes ... Duke Medical Center," she said while actually sighing.

Duke is not only a UNC neighbor, but the Tar Heels' most heated rival and, during the rehab, she made sure everyone knew where she was from.

"I wore this every day," she said, pointing to a gray sweats ensemble with light blue lettering that clearly stated where she played. "People would say, 'You're in the wrong place.' I would say, 'it's just a good outfit.'"

Forrest said she just laughed it off and went to work.

"I feel really good now," she said. Forrest wouldn't actually characterize the injury as a blessing in disguise, but she did say she felt stronger.

Strong were her credentials coming out of Glastonbury High School and the CT Dodgers club program. Forrest was the No. 24-ranked player for incoming freshmen in the nation for the 2022 season by Inside Lacrosse and she was a two-time All-American and played on the U.S. U15 Development Team.

Forest scored 181 career goals in three seasons for coach Kris Cofiell at Glastonbury High School and had a 71 percent scoring average as a senior with 75 goals. She recorded 26 assists, won 36 ground balls, caused 62 turnovers and grabbed 80 draw controls in 2021. She was tabbed as the Max Preps 2020-21 Connecticut Female Athlete of the Year.

Forrest also played soccer and ran indoor track in high school. She earned All-American honors in soccer as a senior, wound up being the all-time leading scorer for soccer at Glastonbury and her team won a state championship in 2019.

For indoor track, she was a three-time All-New England selection and two-time New England champion, a three-time state champion and three-time school record holder.

She is fluent in English and Spanish and earned various academic awards at GHS.

With all those accomplishments, Forrest said she chose UNC and lacrosse because it was always her "dream school" for both academics and athletics.

"It was the right decision to play here and go go school here," Forrest said. "The people are so nice and there has been great support from my teammates and the community."

And she's healthy.