ELON, N.C. – When the Elon University lacrosse team's season concluded in Long Island in the CAA Tournament, Elon graduate Mikaela Buoscio thought it would be the final time she stepped on a field as a player. A few weeks later, she received an opportunity to suit up one last time – with a different team.

The Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) hosts an All-Star Weekend every year with games showcasing the best in women's lacrosse across all three divisions. Following the conclusion of her season, Buoscio was named to Team South for the DI IWLCA 2024 Senior All-Star Game.

During her career with the Phoenix, Buoscio served as a team captain and a focal point in critical aspects of the game: offense, defense and on the draw. Her 58 career draw controls rank among the top-10 in Elon history, and she holds the program record for the most caused turnovers in a single game, with seven. After donning the maroon and gold for 54 games across her four years with the team, the game marked the first time since 2019 that Buoscio lined up with a different logo and teammates.

"I'm so used to putting on the Phoenix uniform," Buoscio said. "This was definitely a little bit more relaxing. Everyone agreed, let's have fun out there, not take it too seriously, but take it seriously enough… It was a really nice community to be a part of."

Her teammates for the game included conference rivals, top-end talent from across the country and players who Buoscio had played against since middle school.

"It was just really fun meeting all the girls. It's people who I've been playing with since I was in seventh grade, playing against or playing with, and everyone was just awesome," Buoscio said.

For a majority of the players, including Buoscio, it marked an opportunity to play the game they fell in love with one last time.

"It was just a perfect way to end our careers," Buoscio said.

The stands of Tierney Field at USA Lacrosse Headquarters were filled with supporters from far and wide. Buoscio's fan section included her family, Elon lacrosse head coach Josh Hexter and some of her former teammates.

"I'm so lucky," Buoscio said. "It's such a bonus to play in this game, but just to have the Maryland girls all come out, and my coach flew from North Carolina, and my family from New Jersey, [it] was just such a bonus and a nice way to end my career."

Although the game marked the end of Buoscio's playing career, she hopes to stay connected with the sport.

"I am hoping to get back into coaching," Buoscio said. "Timeline-wise, I'm not sure, but I love to do private lessons with kids. I've been coaching for over ten years. Hopefully, we'll re-enter into the coaching role eventually."
 

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'Rising Phoenix' is a new student-led initiative to cover Elon Athletics. Through innovative content creation and storytelling, Elon University students will have the opportunity to highlight the moments, people and events that make an impact, leveraging the athletic department's various web and social media platforms for distribution. Follow Rising Phoenix on Twitter (@EURisingPhoenix) and Instagram (@elonrisingphoenix). Interested in joining this initiative as a content creator (video, graphics, writing, storytelling, or more)? Contact Chase Strawser at cstrawser@elon.edu.

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