As the annual Alumni Day approaches on March 15, the American University women’s lacrosse program is taking a moment to highlight and celebrate the incredible careers of four former Eagles. Their accomplishments on the field played a major part in pushing the program to where it is today, and the remarkable careers they’ve built beyond playing lacrosse are forever connected to the lasting impact of their time at American. 

Nadia Harmsen: Attack, 2003

Nadia Harmsen’s well-traveled and inspirational journey in lacrosse has taken her all over the world, and it began when she took an ambitious step at American her freshman year. After picking up lacrosse in just her junior year of high school, Harmsen walked on to the American lacrosse team. 

“[I found] the women's lacrosse offices on one of my first days on campus and asked if I would be able to try out for the team,” said Harmsen. 

Her request to tryout was granted, and she did more than just earn a spot on the roster. The walk-on attacker received All-Patriot League Second Team honors in both 2002 and 2003, and helped lead the Eagles to a Patriot League Championship her senior year. While her collegiate career was over after that, her connection to the game only deepened and became a passport to new experiences. 

She traveled to Australia after graduating to play with the Burnside Lacrosse Club in Adelaide, then began coaching as a volunteer with their U-15 team. In that same year, she found herself growing the game in Germany. Former AU teammate, Tara Michael, invited her to coach at a summer camp in Hamburg, and this opportunity grew into a full-time coaching role with the Bielefeld women’s lacrosse team for the next three years.

After returning to the U.S. to coach at the Winchendon School in Massachusetts in 2010, Harmsen took on two more international ventures in the Netherlands and in Kenya. She spent time on the coaching staff of the U-19 Dutch Women’s National Team until 2015, then assisted the staff of the Kenyan U-19 Boys National Team through a connection with DBA Africa. 

Harmsen is currently the co-Director of Institutional Equity and Diversity at Saint Ann's School, but has kept lacrosse as an active part of her life. She continues to shape the game on a global level as a member of the USA Lacrosse Foundation Board, helping solidify the sport’s upcoming return to the Olympic stage in 2028. 

An amazing journeywoman, the seed to Harmsen’s exceptionally impactful career was planted at American. 

“This journey [in lacrosse] started at AU with me knocking on the lacrosse coaches' door and asking if I could try out,” said Harmsen. “Attending AU and subsequently playing lacrosse transformed my life.”

Courtney Bennett Svajian: Attack, 2004

"I’m so incredibly grateful for my four years playing AU Lacrosse,” said Courtney Bennett Svajian. “One of the greatest gifts I've taken with me, besides time management skills obviously, was a ‘hard-work mindset.’ Through teamwork and positive reinforcement, we were trained to love to do hard things.”

After scoring 22 goals in her career, earning a spot on the Academic Honor Roll three times, being named co-captain, and helping the Eagles to a Patriot League Championship in 2003, Svajian tackled more “hard things” in her life. Through law school, a successful career in legal media, and becoming a parent to five children, she credits the “grittiness” that she developed from AU lacrosse for helping her thrive in all of the challenges she’s faced. 

After serving eight years as the Director of Content for Courtroom View Network, Svajian retired to focus on growing her family. She currently resides in San Diego with her husband, Stephen, and they’re expecting their sixth child in April.

Alyssa Romano: Defender, 2010

Alyssa Romano was synonymous with AU lacrosse in her four years with the program, having played in all but one game in her career from 2007 to 2010. The iron woman defender was a two-time All-Patriot League selection, recording 86 ground balls, 68 caused turnovers, and 24 draw controls. A team captain her senior year, Romano excelled as a leader and credits those around her for shaping her into the player and person she was. 

Romano continued to push herself in her professional life after AU, diving head first into a career in the sports industry that’s seen her work with athletes across every major league. 14 years ago while working towards her Master’s degree at Georgetown, the former Eagle started working at Octagon as an intern. Just last month, she was announced as the company’s Chief Marketing Officer, solidifying an improbable climb to a C-suite position at one of the world’s top sports marketing and entertainment agencies. Romano’s relentless work ethic was highlighted and grown at American, and has shined bright as a defining part of her career.  

Emma Vinall: Attack, 2022

The most recent graduate in our spotlight is Emma Vinall, who graduated in 2022 as the most successful player in program history after a legendary career. Vinall shattered eight records, including career records in points (259), goals (221), and draw controls (292). Her dominance on the field earned her back-to-back All-Patriot League First Team honors in her senior and fifth-year seasons. Just as excellent in the classroom as she was on the field, the business administration major was a fixture on the Patriot League Honor Roll from 2017 to 2022.

Today, Vinall has brought her knowledge of the game to Lehigh women’s lacrosse as the program’s Assistant Coach. In her first two seasons, she's helped lead the Mountain Hawks to back-to-back Patriot League semi-final appearances. This Saturday, she’ll return to the AU sideline when Lehigh and American face off on Alumni Day.