St. Bonaventure

Laura Sumner was an accomplished athlete and student who helped lead the women’s lacrosse program to new heights. Fittingly, she is the first women's lacrosse player elected to the Hall of Fame.

Her freshman year of 2000-01, the Horseheads, N.Y., native helped a program in just its second varsity season win six games. She was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Year and a first team All-Conference selection. A team co-captain as only a sophomore, Sumner was chosen to the Academic All-Conference team that year as the Bonnies improved to seven wins. In 2003, Sumner helped St. Bonaventure to a 12-5 mark and its first berth in the A-10 Tournament. The Bonnies made the conference tournament again in Sumner’s senior season of 2004 and finished with 10 wins overall.

Sumner completed her career as St. Bonaventure’s all-time leading scorer with 146 goals and 37 assists for 183 points (a figure that now ranks fourth). In both her junior and senior seasons, Sumner was named to the A-10 All-Conference team, the Academic All-Conference team, the National Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Academic Honor Roll, and the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll.

After graduating with honors with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, Sumner remained at St. Bonaventure for a year as the assistant strength and conditioning coach and earned a master’s degree in business administration.