Courtesy photo Bishop Guertin junior Rylee Bouvier, right, has announced she'll be headed to Stanford University in the fall of 2022.

NASHUA – From Stellos Stadium to Stanford.

That’s the path that Bishop Guertin High School girls lacrosse standout Rylee Bouvier is taking.

The Cardinals junior and 2019 team Offensive Player of the Year as a freshman announced recently she has committed to play college lacrosse at Stanford University.

“I wanted to challenge myself academically and athletically at the highest level possible and Stanford offers me both of those opportunities,” Bouvier said. “The coaching staff is one of the best in the country and showed me tremendous support throughout my recruiting process.”

Bouvier, who is from Hollis, is one of the first players of the Class of 2022 from the New England region to commit to a Division I program. Her scoring helped lead the Cards to their second of two straight state titles in 2019.

“She’s been at it for a long time, since the seventh grade,” Cards coach Leslie Why said of Bouvier’s search for the right collegiate fit. “She’s been going to camps and identifying the top 10 schools she was interested in, sending film, etc.”

There may have been some familiarity, too, as Stanford coach Danielle Spencer is the former Dartmouth College head coach.

“I talked with (the Stanford coaches) and they indicated they intend for her to play and be an impact player right away.”

Stanford isn’t a national lacrosse power, but was ranked in the top 20 in Division I during the 2019 season. According to Why, Stanford has a small recruiting class this year which increases Bouvier’s value.

“Lacrosse wise, it’s a strong, strong program,” Why said, adding that Bouvier’s next step over the next two seasons is to increase her strength and muscle mass, and get “bigger, faster, stronger” for the Division I level.

No problem.

“She’s a highly competitive athlete,” Why said.

Bouvier credits her coaches both at BG and outside the program, including Why and former Cardinals coach Kerry Gobiel with her development. Gobiel still coaches her with the New Hampshire Tomahawks club team.

“I am looking forward to starting a new journey on the west coast and to bring championships to Stanford lacrosse,” Bouvier said. “I always want to thank my teammates and coaches not only at Bishop Guertin but also with the New Hampshire Tomahawks club.”

“She’s been very successful,” Why said. “I think she’ll do really well out there.”

But first, there’s still some work to be done here at Stellos.

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