From Schnecksville to West Long Beach, NJ. From the Colonial League to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. From Northwestern Lehigh High School to Monmouth University.

Lauren Horner went through a lot of changes after graduating high school.

Her biggest change during it all? The move from midfielder, where she played the majority of her high school field hockey career, to defender where she now plays for the Hawks.

"It was a huge adjustment for me," saaid the 5-foot-4 Horner. "I was pretty excited for it, though. I always wanted to play defense, but I always played midfield. I love playing defense now."

The 2012 graduate of Northwestern Lehigh was a two-sport athlete during her years as a Tiger. She excelled both on the field hockey field and on the diamond as a softball player. She earned four varsity letters while under the tutelage of Northwestern's field hockey head coach Jessica Baker.

The daughter of Charlie and Ann Horner was named team captain for her senior season in New Tripoli. At the conclusion of that season she was named Northwestern Field Hockey's MVP for the second time, her first one coming back in 2009. She also was named the Northwestern Press's Athlete of the Year for the 2011-12 school year.

Horner left Northwestern with 14 career goals and 32 assists. Looking back, she has only praise for the field hockey program.

"Northwestern was great," she said. "I had the best teammates and coaches who were able to help me. It prepared me really well for Monmouth. Even though it was a smaller program, the basic concepts of teamwork and having pride in our school carry over."

That hard work in high school and during the summer before heading to the Division I school paid off for her as she started the first seven games of her college career. She went on to start seven more throughout that fall season, including the two Northeast Conference Tournament games the Hawks played in. She saw game action in 20 out of the 21 total contests during her freshman season.

Although she didn't expect to see that much of the field during her inaugural year as a Hawk, Horner was optimistic the success from high school would make the trip with her to New Jersey.

"I was hoping that [the success would transition], but I knew that it would be a lot different," she said. "Also, that it would require a lot of work."

Horner's individual success wasn't the only positive story coming out of West Long Beach. The Hawks went 8-13 in 2012 and possessed a 5-2 record in the MAAC. The team finished second in the conference. She was proud to be part of a great season, but she and her teammates are determined for a better 2013.

"[The team] is looking to get in shape and work hard in our spring season and then win the conference in the fall because we came in second the last two seasons," she said.

Horner worked feverishly all year round playing field hockey and softball in the Colonial League.

That determination translated in to an opportunity at a division one field hockey program. She seized that chance and now is getting to play an integral role in Monmouth University's field hockey program.