Carolyn Chambers: From Multi-Sport Star to Richmond Spiders Lacrosse Defensive Leader

In Division I collegiate lacrosse, few players demonstrate the commitment and growth trajectory of Carolyn Chambers, who transformed from a versatile high school athlete into a defensive cornerstone for the University of Richmond Spiders.

The Making of a Lacrosse Competitor

Carolyn Chambers earned her place on the University of Richmond lacrosse roster through consistent performance and athletic pedigree. Born on May 15 in Chatham, New Jersey, she grew up in a sports-centered family with siblings Peter, Cate, and Jack, all immersed in competitive athletics from an early age.

Her mother, Mary Chambers, played field hockey at the University of Richmond from 1982 to 1985. Her father, Dan Chambers, also supported the family’s athletic pursuits. This Richmond connection meant Carolyn wasn’t just choosing any university—she was continuing a family tradition at a school her mother knew well.

High School Foundation at Morristown-Beard

At Morristown-Beard School, Chambers established herself across three varsity sports over four years. Her lacrosse team reached the Prep-B finals twice before winning the championship in 2014, her senior season.

Her individual honors included:

• First-Team All-Colonial South Conference
• First-Team All-Independence South League (twice)
• First-Team All-Prep B (twice)
• Second-Team All-Morris County

Chambers finished her high school lacrosse career with 104 goals, 110 ground balls, 151 draw controls, and 72 caused turnovers across four varsity seasons.

Multi-Sport Excellence

Chambers competed in varsity field hockey for four years, serving as team captain for two seasons. The team won the 2012 Prep-B Championship and returned to the finals in 2013. She earned First-Team recognition from the Independence Conference, Prep-B, Morris County, and the Daily Record. She was selected as a North Jersey All-Star and named the 2013 field hockey MVP.

She also played four years of ice hockey, captaining the team her senior year and earning All-State and All-WIHLMA League honors twice.

Chambers was named Morristown-Beard’s NJSIAA Scholar Athlete for the 2013-14 school year, balancing athletic demands with academic performance.

1. Freshman Year at Richmond (2015)

Chambers entered Division I lacrosse at the University of Richmond in 2015. She appeared in 13 games with seven starts as a freshman, contributing primarily on defense. She collected nine ground balls, caused two turnovers, and won three draws during the season. Her strongest performance came in the A-10 Tournament semifinal victory over Duquesne, where she recorded three ground balls.

2. Sophomore Development (2016)

In her sophomore year, Chambers played in 17 games with seven starts. Her defensive presence grew as she collected 17 ground balls and caused seven turnovers. She won two draw controls and took one shot against VCU on April 1. Her role as a defensive specialist became more defined during this season.

3. Junior Season at Robins Stadium (2017)

The 2017 season marked Chambers’ breakthrough as a full-time starter. She started all 20 games on the defensive end for the Richmond Spiders, demonstrating the coaching staff’s confidence in her abilities.

Her statistics reflected her increased role: 19 ground balls, eight caused turnovers, and 11 draw controls—nearly six times her sophomore total. This season established her as a reliable defender in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

4. Senior Year and Championship Success (2018)

Chambers’ final season wearing Richmond colors proved to be her most productive. She was one of nine players to start all 20 games for the Spiders during a historic year for the program.

The 2018 Richmond women’s lacrosse team finished 16-4 overall with an 8-1 Atlantic 10 Conference record, capturing the A-10 Championship. Chambers played a key role in this success, recording career-high statistics: 29 ground balls and 24 caused turnovers, both ranking in the top five on the team.

After three years focused on defense, Chambers scored her first career goal in a victory over Duquesne on March 31, 2018. She also registered her first career assist in the season-opening win against Campbell on February 10, demonstrating her ability to contribute across all areas of the field.

Defensive Impact and Statistical Analysis

Chambers’ four-year career totals tell the story of consistent defensive work:

• 74 total ground balls across four seasons
• 41 caused turnovers
• 16 draw controls
• 1 goal and 1 assist in her senior campaign

These numbers reflect a player who understood her role and executed it with discipline. Ground balls and caused turnovers are critical defensive metrics in lacrosse, and Chambers’ ability to force mistakes and control loose balls made her valuable to the Spiders’ defensive strategy.

The Richmond Legacy Connection

Playing at the same university where her mother competed three decades earlier created a unique connection for Chambers. Mary Chambers’ experience as a student-athlete at Richmond likely provided insights into managing the demands of Division I athletics and academics at a rigorous institution.

This family continuity added personal significance to Chambers’ achievements, particularly during the 2018 championship season when the Spiders claimed conference supremacy.

Student-Athlete Balance

The University of Richmond maintains high academic standards alongside its Division I athletic programs. Chambers’s ability to maintain her role as a four-year contributor while meeting the academic requirements speaks to the time management and discipline she developed at Morristown-Beard.

Student-athletes at this level typically manage 20+ hours of practice and competition weekly during the season, plus travel for away games, while maintaining full course loads. The NJSIAA Scholar Athlete recognition she earned in high school indicated she had the foundation for this balance.

Career Trajectory and Role Definition

Chambers’ progression from freshman reserve to senior starter demonstrates the value of embracing a specific role. Not every player scores 40 goals per season, but successful teams need defenders who can win ground balls, cause turnovers, and disrupt opposing offenses.

Her statistics show steady improvement in the defensive metrics that mattered most to Richmond’s system. The fact that she started every game as a junior and senior indicates the coaching staff trusted her consistency and execution.

The 2018 Championship Season Context

The 2018 season represented the peak of Chambers’ career and one of Richmond’s strongest years in recent program history. The 16-4 record and A-10 Championship validated the work of the entire team, including the defensive unit where Chambers served as a key contributor.

In conference tournament play and regular season games, Chambers’ ability to control ground balls and force turnovers helped Richmond maintain possession and limit opponent scoring opportunities. These contributions, while less visible than goals, directly impacted game outcomes.

Post-College Impact

While Chambers’ playing career concluded in 2018, her impact extends beyond her final season. Four-year contributors who progress from bench players to starters provide a template for younger players entering Division I programs.

Her journey shows that athletic success doesn’t always follow a linear path. Some players arrive at college as immediate stars, while others develop gradually, finding their niche and maximizing their abilities within the team structure.

Chambers’ career offers several insights for aspiring college lacrosse players:

• Players can make significant impacts without leading in scoring. Ground balls, caused turnovers, and defensive positioning are all critical to winning games.
• Role acceptance matters. Rather than fighting for a position that didn’t fit her skills, Chambers became excellent at what the team needed her to do.
• Development continues throughout college. Her senior season statistics were significantly better than her freshman numbers, showing consistent improvement.
• Family connections can inform but don’t define athletic careers. While her mother’s Richmond background provided context, Chambers created her own identity as a Spider.

Final Season Legacy

By the end of the 2018 season, Carolyn Chambers had participated in 70 career games for Richmond, starting 47 of them. She contributed to a championship season and left behind a statistical record that reflected her defensive focus and reliability.

Future Richmond defenders can study her progression as a model for how to develop into a starting role at the Division I level. Her career demonstrates that success in collegiate athletics comes in many forms and that players who accept their roles and execute them consistently become invaluable to their teams.