Player Spotlight: Caroline Doerfler Finds Her Place Through Lacrosse, ROTC, and Community

When freshman midfielder Caroline Doerfler arrived at Creighton University last fall, she brought a passion for nursing and a dedication to military service. What she didn't quite expect was the chance to continue playing lacrosse at the collegiate level.

Doerfler, from Overland Park, Kansas, is majoring in Nursing and can often be found juggling a full schedule of academics, Army ROTC commitments, and practices with Creighton's Premier Club Sports women's lacrosse team. Somewhere in the middle of it all, she still finds time to enjoy her favorite local food spot, Tokyo Sushi.

Falling in Love with Lacrosse

Caroline didn't grow up expecting lacrosse to become her sport. In fact, she didn't even pick up a stick until her freshman year of high school.

Originally, she planned on running track in the spring after completing cross country in the fall. But one invitation changed everything.

"A friend invited me to a lacrosse practice," she remembers. "I fell in love with it. I'm still a runner, but running and chasing down a ball in lacrosse is way more enjoyable than just running."

That unexpected passion stayed with her all the way to Omaha.

Choosing Creighton and Premier Club Sports

Caroline's path to Creighton was a moment of mom-knows-best honesty. Her mom signed her up for a campus tour during her senior year of high school. On the car ride home, Caroline turned to her and said, "You know, Mom, I hate to say this, but you're right." She had that unmistakable feeling—it was exactly where she needed to be.

Initially, Caroline wasn't sure she wanted to keep playing lacrosse in college. Between ROTC and a demanding major, she assumed she wouldn't have the time. But when she learned more about the Premier Club Sports program, something clicked.

She realized lacrosse could be more than another responsibility—it could be a release.
"It helps get my mind off everything," she says. "It's a great way to spend my time outside of ROTC and academics."

Caroline considered trying the student-level club team, but the Premier program caught her attention. The more she got to know the people, the more she realized it was exactly where she belonged.

Now? She looks forward to practice every day.
"I love going to practice, playing lacrosse, and being with my teammates," she says.

Finding Balance Through Discipline

With a schedule filled to the brim, Caroline has learned to structure her days with intention.

She spaces out time for studying, meals, the gym, relaxation, and sleep—all while staying committed to both Premier lacrosse and ROTC.

Her parents even asked if she was sure she wanted to take on so much. Caroline's response says everything about her drive:
"I feel like my grades would go down if I'm not busy enough."

Why ROTC?

Military service was a major deciding factor in her college search. Caroline knew she wanted a role in the medical field within the military, and Creighton offered the exact blend she was looking for.

The Army ROTC program on campus paired with Creighton's strong nursing school made the decision easy.

For more information on Creighton's ROTC program, check out the ROTC webpage here.

Looking Ahead to the Season

As the Premier team approaches its competitive stretch, Caroline is excited for what's ahead.
She's especially looking forward to traveling with the team and finally competing in games.

"I think we'll have an even better mindset once games start," she says. "It'll be tough balancing everything, but we'll work together and bond through it."

Caroline also credits the Premier program for supporting the players beyond the sport itself.
She says, "They remind us to prioritize academics and work around things when major commitments come up."

That understanding has made a world of difference in her transition to college athletics.

Advice for Future Bluejays

Looking ahead to next year, Caroline already knows what she'd tell incoming students who might feel overwhelmed by new challenges:

"Take it all in. You're going to find parts you like and parts you don't. But you have to stick it out. If you go in with a bad mindset, you're not giving it a chance to be great for you. Have a growth mindset—and then you'll know what you love."

It's something her dad instilled in her long before she arrived at Creighton.
Whenever things get tough, he'll ask, "Attitude check?"
Her response is always the same: "WIN!"

Even on the hardest days, Caroline knows how to pick herself up and keep moving forward.

Player Spotlight: Caroline Doerfler Finds Her Place Through Lacrosse, ROTC, and Community

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