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 Paul Leads on Lacrosse Field and in Community
May 5, 2005
By TIM WILKIN, Staff writer Albany Times Union LOUDONVILLE -- Sometimes, there just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day. Joan Paul, a senior at Siena College, can attest to that. Paul, who is from Schenectady and went to Niskayuna High School, is a standout midfielder for the Saints lacrosse team, which will be making its first ever trip to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament this weekend. In the fall, she was also the captain of the cross country team and set personal bests in the 5K (19:04) and 6K (22:27). When she isn't yielding a lacrosse stick or running through the woods, Paul can't sit still. She volunteers her time to various causes. You can see her tutoring elementary students who don't have a gym. She also helps teach a program that promotes sciences to local children in Catholic schools. "I don't sleep that much," Paul said with a laugh. She has also volunteered at St. Francis Inn, a soup kitchen in Pennsylvania, during winter break; spent six weeks in Trinidad and Tobago over the summer break teaching children how to read and write. "I don't know how she does it," said her father, Paul John Paul. "She really extends herself but she also works very hard." Which is exactly the way she wants it. If there is nothing on her plate, then she gets bored. "I really like to stay busy," she said. "I would probably fail out of school if I did not have anything to do." Fat chance of that. She carries a grade point average of 3.93 while studying biology and psychology. "Joan is a great person and a great student," said Siena athletic director John D'Argenio. "She brings equal commitment to the athletic fields and her studies. She is also a person who has great vision on what she can do as an individual in the community." Paul's focus this weekend is on the MAAC Tournament. Siena, which has never had a winning record since the program began in 1996, is 10-6 and the second seed in the four-team tournament. Paul plays midfield for the Saints and has six goals and seven assists for 13 points. When asked to assess her play this year, Paul doesn't want to answer. "I don't know, ask my coach," she said. "I think I am OK but we have a lot of pretty good players on this team." Jake McHerron, who is in his second year as Siena's coach, is aware of everything that Paul wants to do. And has done. "I think it could be pretty tough on her but she is able to use her time management skills to accomplish whatever she wants to accomplish," McHerron said. "But she does a tremendous job. She is one of our main midfielders and does anything we need from her." When her college days end next month, Paul will refocus and start going after new goals. She will go to Albany Medical College and begin her quest to become a doctor in sports medicine. This summer she plans on running in a marathon in hopes of qualifying for next year's Boston Marathon. "Life is good right now," she said. "We're all just concentrating on lacrosse and we're hoping we do well in the tournament."
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