There’s setting the tone, then there’s setting the bar—and Shawn Benoliel Lawrence helped set the bar for what lacrosse excellence looks like at Williston. The leading scorer of the team from 1976 to 1978, Lawrence held the school record in career goals for 14 years after her graduation. Lawrence scored 50 goals in 1977—out of the team’s 99—to set another school record at that time. In her senior spring, Lawrence was named the team’s MVP. She wasn’t just a lacrosse player, though: Lawrence also swam for Williston and excelled there, as well. She set the school record in the 100-yard backstroke as a senior and was on the Medley relay team that finished second at New England’s. During the fall, Lawrence was co-captain of the field hockey team her senior year. Lawrence went on to play lacrosse at Ithaca College leading the team to a pair of state collegiate championships. During her career, she collected 206 points in 54 games, a scoring record that lasted 21 years. She still holds Bomber records with 170 career goals averaging over 3 goals scored per game. Lawrence was inducted into Ithaca’s Hall of Fame in 2003. Later on in her life, in a twist of fate that only the sports gods can come up with, Lawrence was on hand when her Williston scoring mark was broken in 1992—officiating the contest.
