By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Shelby Farland Green knew that she would be playing field hockey when she arrived at Bridgewater State University in 2009.

What she wasn't planning on was being part of two sports for the Bears.

But Erika Smith, who was both the field hockey and women's lacrosse coach at the time, asked Farland Green to try lacrosse as well.

Not only did Farland Green become a top-notch field hockey player for Bridgewater State, but she also wound up being a key contributor to the lacrosse program for four seasons.

"I grew up playing field hockey," said Farland Green. "I didn't play lacrosse until coach Smith convinced me to try my freshman year. Field hockey is definitely my go-to sport, then I fell in love with lacrosse and it is a strong No. 2.

"I never would have played it if coach Smith didn't convince me to play. It's one of the best things I've ever done. I loved playing it all four years."

Farland Green will be recognized for her success when she is inducted into the Bridgewater State University Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday night, Oct. 20, as part of Homecoming Weekend.

In field hockey, Farland Green had 60 goals (17 of them game winners) and 25 assists for 145 points. She set a school record with 32 points and 77 points as a senior in 2012 and made the All-Little East Conference first team as a junior and senior.

She was picked to the Division 3 All-New England West Region first team and the ECAC Division 3 New England All-Star team in 2012 and made the Women'sFieldHockey.com All-America third team. She is tied for the school's all-time lead in career assists and is second in goals and points.

In lacrosse, Farland Green was a defender for teams that made the NCAA Division 3 tourney four years in a row, winning the conference title each season.

The Bears went 61-18, including 35-1 in conference games, and Farland Green was the New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance defensive player of the year and a first-team selection in 2012. She was on the All-MASCAC first team as a senior and had 25 goals, 24 assists, 43 ground balls and 24 draw controls in her career.

An elementary education and English major, Farland Green received her Master's in special education. She now teaches and is the field hockey coach at her alma mater, Tantasqua Regional High.

"I loved what I was studying," said Farland Green. "I felt like I really enjoyed my classes and enjoyed studying and loved having that time to play sports and be with my friends, too. It was a lot of work, but I feel like it was all worth it and I wouldn't have changed it."

Farland Green said she was learning on the fly after taking up lacrosse as a freshman.

"Definitely a challenge," she said. "If you ask my teammates, I asked like 500 questions.

They were like, 'Shelby, shut up.' I had a lot of questions. It's not exactly a sport that has a lot of whistles, either.

"My speed helped me. I could run with it and give the ball to someone who knew what they were doing with it. It was a good balance."

Both teams that Farland Green played on had plenty of success, and she is looking forward to seeing her former coach and teammates.

"I feel like this is a great way for my team and my coach to get the recognition they deserve," she said. "We had such a great team and I had such a great coach. I feel like it's nice that I get a chance to be a part of it with them.

"I'm very excited. It's definitely bringing back a lot of great memories. I loved it. I loved living on campus, loved being part of it. I try to instill it in all my high school girls now.

"I learned so much in college that I didn't know in high school. I wasn't just going to college and playing a sport. I gained so much more experience and so much more knowledge as I continued to play. Coach Smith was such a great coach. She made you want to learn more. It was amazing."