Dedication, hardwork, pays off for Malush

by Matthew Ondesko, Managing Editor

There is no substitution for hard work.

Natalie Malush knew she always wanted to play lacrosse at the highest level. But, for her to achieve her goals, she needed to make some changes. One of those changes was where she was going to play her club lacrosse.

Section VI has a lot of great lacrosse players, but Rochester is at a different level. The game of lacrosse is played pretty intensely, and that was what Malush was looking for. When Malush was given the opportunity to play for Monster Elite Lacrosse she jumped at the chance.

“For many years it has always been my dream to play college lacrosse. In the summer of 2022 I was determined to take my game to the next level. The game of lacrosse is played at a much higher level in Rochester,” stated Malush. “I began playing for Monster Elite Lacrosse based out of Rochester and attended every clinic offered by a wonderful Buffalo based coach affectionately known as Coach Myz. I traveled to Rochester 3 days a week to train and sacrificed many hours in the car to help realize my dream. Playing for Monster Elite helped to increase my skill level, allowed me to train with excellent players, and gave me national exposure to college coaches at tournaments that we attended.”

Malush was able to take that next step to the point that colleges started to take notice. The recruiting process is never an easy one, and Malush started to have options. As she went through the process she learned a lot about herself.

She learned that the process is not an easy one. It has many ups and downs, and coaches promising the world. She leaned on her mom for the guidance she needed when it came to making the right choice regarding school.

“I learned that the recruiting process is tough and filled with many ups and downs. I learned to never give up and that everything happens for a reason,” stated Malush. “Throughout the process my mom would constantly keep reminding me that I would land exactly where I was supposed to. I also learned that hard work pays off and that the road to your dream is sometimes filled with twists and turns. I feel blessed to be able to fulfill my dream at the D1 level.”

That process led her to Pittsburgh, and Robert Morris. The Colonials have recently been picked to finish first in the MAC - and have built a solid program. When she visited Robert Morris it just felt like home.

The coaches were great to her, and the school had everything she was looking for, a great lacrosse and academic program.

“I was fortunate to have the opportunity to visit multiple schools. Robert Morris felt like home immediately as I walked on campus. My dad grew up in Pittsburgh, so that city has always been special to my family and I,” stated Malush. “I felt like the coaches saw who I was as a player and made me feel like RMU was a place where I could be successful academically and athletically. It is a perfect distance from home and I am happy that my parents and family will be able to travel to watch me play. When the coaches made me an offer I was thrilled to say yes and make RMU my home for the next four years.”

Now that her college is picked, Malush can focus on playing lacrosse. There is still the pressure she will put on herself to be as great as she can be. But, there won’t be the pressure of every college coach watching her play, dissecting every move she makes.

Right now, however, she is just waiting to get on the field. A torn labrum in her hip at the end of last year has set her back a little. The surgery was extensive and the rehabbing has been taxing at times, both physically and mentality.

Malush is hoping to be cleared soon so she can get back out there with her teammates this spring.

“Once I committed there was a huge sense of relief. Making the commitment official recently is truly a dream come true knowing all of my hard work has paid off. I unfortunately suffered a torn labrum in my hip and underwent a pretty extensive surgery in June 2024,” stated Malush. “This experience has challenged me both mentally and physically, but has also taught me a lot. I have been rehabbing hard and look forward to being cleared to play soon. I can't wait to get back on the field for my senior season and play my final season with my teammates.”

As she gets ready to play her senior season at Grand Island, Malush knows the injury has made her stronger. No athlete wants to go through that type of injury, and process, but Malush has contented to just put her head down and work hard.

It has been a long road for her over the past eight months. There have been those ups and down during the rehab process, but it has made her better person for join g thorough it.

“I am still rehabbing from hip surgery. It has been a long road, but this challenge has made me stronger. My goal is to continue to work hard to be ready to play my senior season,” stated Malush. “I know that D1 lacrosse is next level so I will be doing as much prep work as I can between now and August once I am cleared- running, lifting, wall ball, footwork, and any clinic opportunities that are available to me.”

When Malush does get back on the field she will take up the spot she normally does, and that’s scoring goals. It’s not just about scoring goals for Malush, however. She has a tremendous lacrosse IQ that allows her choose whether to shoot, pass or hold on to ball.

Always aggressive on the field, Malush has grown in confidence - which has allowed herself to take her game to the next level.

“I have been very fortunate to have had two wonderful coaches throughout my GI career. Coach Breier and Coach Chowske both have worked so hard with me over the years and have always believed in me. I pride myself on having a strong lacrosse IQ which allows me to know when it is smart to shoot, pass, or hold the ball. I have always been competitive and aggressive on the field, but have grown into being more aggressive as my skill level and confidence has increased over the years,” stated Malush. “Patience is key in the game of lacrosse. When you rush decisions on the field that’s when you and teammates tend to make more mistakes. When another team is doubling me that is when it is so important to get my teammates involved and communicate. Lacrosse is such a team sport and we all have to work together on the field to be successful.”

Success is measured in many different ways. Malush has been part of the lacrosse team since eight grade. She has been able to kern from some of the best that have graced the field at Grand Island.

She has grown into the type of leader that the younger girls can look up too. Malush takes her job as a captain very seriously - and it shows.

“I started playing varsity for GI as an 8th grader and have been fortunate to have been a starter on the team since then. I have had many wonderful role models over the years to look up to. Ella & Lily Koslowski, Olivia Fox, and Juliet Chadima are all GI graduates that I have had the privilege to play with,” stated Malush. “They have all made me a better player and we have made so many unforgettable memories together. As a group we had big dreams and finally brought the first Section VI championship back to GI in 2022! I take my role as team captain seriously and work hard to be a positive role model for the younger players on the team.”