The Tom Brady of women’s lacrosse is in our midst.

If you’re not all that familiar, then please know that the name Kristen Kjellman Marshall is synonymous with the sport.

"She’s it," said former Bishop Guertin High School coach Amanda Rogers, who now works with Marshall at a local professional training company, Velocity Performance. "She is lacrosse, nationally. And we get to have her in this area. … Very cool. It’s huge for the city and the state, really."

Marshall’s list of accomplishments in the sport are unparalleled. A native of Westwood, Mass., she made her claim to fame at Northwestern University as a midfielder who led the school to three national championships from 2005-2007. She was a four-time first team All-American, named the nation’s best player, and also was named the Sportswoman of the Year by the Women’s Sports Foundation.

After college? All she did was lead the women’s U.S. National Team to the FIL World Cup gold medal in 2009 (she played for the team from 2007-2011), and was named to the All-World Team as a midfielder.

She’s in the Northwestern Hall of Fame, and after her playing career embarked on a career in sports marketing with Nike and eventually found her way back to New England.

Thus, those who know the sport grew up idolizing Marshall.

"I’m flattered," she said after working a recent youth lacrosse clinic at Rivier University for her Victory Academy program that focuses on leadership skills for student athletes. "I was fortunate, thanks to my parents, to be given an opportunity to play the game. And I was also fortunate to have amazing coaches along the way. I learned work ethic and perserverance from my parents but was placed in great opportunities to succeed."

Marshall spent the spring talking to several high school and youth programs in the Nashua area and around the state. And she’s discovered some intereting things about the sport.

"I’m very impressed with the state of girls lacrosse, especially here in the area," she said. "I’m impressed by the talent, the commitment, and how these girls want to learn. It’s exciting to see, exciting to see the growth of the game, from when I was their age and where it’s come."

Marshall used to be a softball player, then in the eighth grade a local coach who was a family friend suggested she try out the game.

"I took a stick home, started passing around, and I was hooked," she said. "Once I started playing, I loved the aggressiveness. I guess there was something that with me starting a little bit later to want to continue it."

Marshall tells the youths and high school players she speaks with to keep playing other sports, "to make them better athletes, keep continuing to learn, play different positions. Don’t get locked into one sport and one position. Keep those horizons broad … You never know when you’re going to get thrown into a new situation. The more verstatile you are, the more you’ll get to play."

Rogers is still amazed Marshall is here.

"Just to really grow up with an idol who literally was the best in the world," Rogers said. "She’s such an incredible powerhouse in terms of lacrosse.

"But when I met her what was even better was her humility. I’m impressed by her success and ability to impact others."

That’s what Marshall has done the past few months while she’s been working in the area, commuting from her Portsmouth home.

"I love being up here in Nashua and back in New England," Marshall said, adding the only time she plays now is in pickup games for fun.

How about coaching? With an 18-month-old daughter, it’s unlikely, she says, but some have approached her. "It’s super flattering, but I have a little lacrosse player on the horizon myself," she said.

Her favorite lacrosse moment?

"Probably winning the national championship in 2005, we were a solid group of girls and had no expectations going into it, which made it so amazing. It was only the fourth year of the program."

Marshall is thrilled that the professional United Women’s Lacrosse League has formed, and includes a team in Boston. She’d love to see a team in Nashua.

"It’s great for teams in the area," she said. "But I think the skills here have developed. I think it’s due to local people – like Amanda Rogers – who have stayed around and given back to the sport and the community. I love it. I love to see it grow. Anything I can do to give back and teach younger players."

"It’s inspiring," Rogers said. "We just started the professional lacrosse league and I think she’s someone who could take the sport to the next level."

And it’s clear when it comes to women’s lacrosse, Marshall has stood on a level all her own.