Emerging as a leader

   Air Academy junior Hayley Bernstein was no longer the overlooked or second scoring option when the Kadets girls lacrosse team took the field this past season.

    A season-ending knee injury to 2007 Gazette Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year Alex Befus forced Bernstein, a 2007 first-team honoree, to step up into a larger role as the team's leading offensive player (75 goals,) who also made her teammates better finishers (40 assists).

    Like the rest of the junior-laden team, that reached the state semifinals despite losing three starters to injury, the 2008 Player of the Year excelled and has a chance at a memorable senior season.

When did you first take up lacrosse?
My sister Danielle played on the Patriots lacrosse program that feeds into Air Academy. One of my friends got me into boys lacrosse before girls lacrosse was competing much.

What other sports do you do besides lacrosse?
I don't play any other sport but lacrosse full-time and the marching band at school. I like them both, but lacrosse is more of a priority right now. It may take me to college. I made the national team for the Rocky Mountain region and I (got to go) to Maryland to play in the national tournament.

Why do you and other fans like lacrosse?
There is so much action in it. It's a highscoring game. If you work your hardest it all pays off.

Do you think you're the best in the area?
Not at all. It's a complete team effort. I wouldn't be anywhere without them or the coach. He's led me to be the player that I am. I'm still developing as a player and I still have a long ways to go.

What are you best at in lacrosse?
Right now I'm more of a dodger. I want to develop into more of an all-around player.

Looking forward to next season?
We are returning so many players (three lost to graduation) and we were just starting to come together this season.

Your coach Sean Harmon mentioned how the team went through adversity with injuries. How did that help you guys because reaching the state semifinals is a very successful season?
We were expecting to have smaller roles but we had to start coming up bigger and working harder. That brought us together as a team.

Favorite class? Future college major?
I'm really enjoying chemistry. I'm working on it a lot because I was struggling at the beginning of the year.

Thinking about where you want to go to college and what major?
I definitely looking at a good academic school with lacrosse. I still need to work on that. I don't exactly know what I'll study. Probably athletic training and physical therapy. Sports are a big part of my life and I want to continue that.

What instruments do you play?
I play two: the clarinet and mellophone; it's the marching band version of the French horn.

Did you ever read something for class that you unexpectedly enjoyed?
"The Crucible" by Arthur Miller. We acted it out in class.

What's your guilty pleasure?
I really am just so worn out when I get home that I procrastinate the homework but I know I shouldn't.

What's your best character trait?
I'm pretty hard-working. I try my best at everything. If someone says I can't do it, I work extra hard to prove them wrong.