High school girls' lacrosse star signs on with Mercy College

By Carol Reif
WEST MILFORD ‑‑ One of West Milford High School's top athletes will be bringing her massive lacrosse skills to Mercy College next fall, says her coach, Christian Conway.
Taylor Bishop, a 17-year-old senior and an attackman for the Highlanders, recently signed a "letter of intent" with the Dobbs Ferry, NY-based school, where she will play with the nationally ranked Mercy College Mavericks.
"It is very exciting to be attending Mercy College and becoming a part of the girls' lacrosse team," the 17 year old said, thanking her family and coaches for their support "for so many years."
According to Conway, Taylor has been a "huge part" of the high school team's offense since becoming a starting Varsity player as a freshman.
She was in the top three scorers for the team each season, and became the third player in its history to record 100 career goals, according to the coach.
"Our current system is designed to highlight both her strength as a shooter and a playmaker," Conway said, adding that Taylor "has shown tremendious growth as a player by working on her own to improve her skills and taking on a leadership role."
According to the 5 foot 5 inch Hewitt teen's recent recruitment profile, during her 2017 junior year, she made First Team All-County, First Team All Conference, was named Athlete of the Week, and received the girls lacrosse Players' Player Award and the girls' lacrosse "Most Dedicated" Trophy.
This past fall, Taylor also made the New Jersey Thunder Team, a club travel team, according to her recruitment stats.
In 2016, she played for Hudson Valley Express,a club travel team, and also competed in Project 120 in Lehigh Bethlehem, where she played four games and scored six goals.
Taylor herself has said she is very dedicated to the sport and that one of her greatest strengths is being a team player.
When she was a freshman, while on the starting
Varsity team, Taylor said on her recruitment page, she scored 24 goals and had a .511 shooting percentage.
When a sophomore, she said, she became "more vocal on the field" because she wanted to become a "team leader."
That year she scored 34 goals, bringing her two-year total to 58.
Conway said he, and the entire school sports community, is "very excited that she will be recognized for her efforts by being given the opportunity to continue playing in college with a very strong and respected program."