Jordan Sheive details her journey to the lacrosse field

She shoots; she scores. All eyes are on senior Lady Flames lacrosse player Jordan Sheive as she dominates in her final season on the Mountain. Though the attacker has been lighting up the field for the past four seasons, she did not always intend to play college lacrosse.

Growing up in a household with two brothers and parents who were both soccer players, Sheive was destined to take up the family sport. She tested the waters with many sports from swimming to softball, but she had her heart set on playing college soccer. It was not until later in her high school career that she made the shift to focus on lacrosse full time.

“I played soccer for most of my life,” Sheive said. “I started when I was really young and then played through high school until my junior year. I pretty much played a little bit of everything, but I didn’t start lacrosse until middle school. So, it was a little bit later of a start for me, but I think I started to like it more because it was more of my own sport versus how soccer was kind of (something) that everyone in my family did.”

Lacrosse attracted Sheive because it was a sport she could connect with and discover all on her own. Unlike soccer, lacrosse was new territory, and Sheive found herself drawn to the sport in a way that differed from the other sports she played.

“I think it is very different because it is so technical and you had to be very specific with how you handled your stick,” Sheive said. “It is not just running alongside everyone else; you actually have full control, and it is just so unlike any other sport that I have played.”

After taking off her shin guards and picking up a stick, Sheive realized her love for lacrosse. She made a complete 180-turn, as she was determined to play college lacrosse rather than continue with the sport that was her first love.

The California native never imagined herself on the other side of the country in Lynchburg, but she unexpectedly found her way to Liberty University after a campus visit that proved to be love at first sight.

“We sent an email out to basically every school we could. I was invited to a prospect camp the summer between my junior and senior year of high school, and once I came here and saw the team and met the coaches, I wanted to come here; that was it for me,” Sheive said. “It was such a God thing though because I had never heard of this school before, but as soon as I came here, I knew I wanted to come here.”

She attributes much of her success to the support of her family. Throughout her years of playing various sports and dreaming of playing in college, it was her parents who gave her the push to go the extra mile.

“I could not have done a thing without my mom; she helped so much in the whole recruiting process. She was on top of everything, all the emailing, reaching out to schools and pushing me to get better playing,” Sheive said. “From paying for private lessons to just honing my skills, my family is definitely the biggest support system that I have.”

In her spare time, Sheive gives back to the community by mentoring younger girls and giving private lacrosse lessons. She is set to graduate this year with a degree in business administration and finance. Though she is still deciding on what career path she will take, she is certain that lacrosse will remain an important part of her life.

In her years at Liberty, Sheive’s faith has blossomed thanks to the witness of godly coaches, teammates and peers. 

“We just all love each other so much, and they’re not afraid to call you out if you’re not being loving, and we all have so much fun together,” Sheive said. “These girls, we all believe the same things, and it’s just so comforting to know that we’re in that with each other and that we’re set apart from other teams because of our love for Jesus.”

Not only has her faith developed her personal life, but it has also made her a better player. Trusting God has allowed Sheive to see the game from a new perspective and realize who she is and who she truly plays for. As she finishes out her senior season, she has faith that God will guide her, and she chooses to play for his glory rather than her own.

“(Faith) honestly helps me so much, to be able to take the pressure off myself and just to ask God for the strength and the courage to glorify him on the field and just play for an audience of one,” Sheive said. “You just remind yourself every day of that. It’s not all about the score, and it’s bigger than this and us.”

White is a sports reporter for the Liberty Champion