In a world where sports is still largely male-dominated, finding the silver lining in women’s athletics can be rare. Women sports are often placed second, whether that be in funding, coverage, or recognition. But times are changing. Women’s sports are rising. Visibility is increasing and respect is growing. Quietly but powerfully dual-sport female athletes are merging.
We’ve heard stories like Bo Jackson’s; he’s an all-star in both the NFL and MLB. There are other dual-sport legends like Deion Sanders, who juggled 14 seasons in the NFL, while maintaining a part-time career in professional baseball.
But what about the women in dual-sport paths today? Why aren’t they discussed as often?
Right here at Gordon College, one of those athletes is Sophia Tomassoni. After a terrific freshman season with the women’s lacrosse team. Sophia finished third in caused turnovers, right behind senior legends Emma Darling and Kayla Davidson, but Sophia wasn’t done there. She brought that same grit, athleticism, and drive into a new sport: field hockey.
Choosing Grit Over Comfort
She was never recruited for field hockey, nor did she did plan for it. But when the opportunity presented itself, Sophia said yes not out of obligation, but out of love for sports, the team, discipline, and the process.
That’s the thing about dual sport athletes like Sophia; they choose the difficult path. Not for fame, not for praise, but because they believe in what sports can bring out in themselves. They believe they will leave with lessons and stories they can use for the rest of their lives.
“Everything I do is a choice,” Sophia says.
And that choice comes with a cost, both physically and mentally. Managing two collegiate level sports while trying to keep up with your academics is no joke.
Some days, energy is in short supply. The schedule is packed. The body aches. But Sophia sees that sacrifice as worth it, even sacred.
To her, that exhaustion is not a burden but an offering — a small sacrifice if you would — in exchange for something deeply meaningful. It’s about more than wins and stats. It’s about grit, joy, faith and showing up with her whole heart.
She reflects often on Colossians 3:23, which talks about doing everything with excellence. Her teams, especially field hockey, have embraced that mindset. To play with excellence is to play with everything you’ve got, even when in situations like a tied game and your legs are heavy and giving out, it’s not talent that keeps you going, it’s grit. It’s God. It’s heart. And it’s what Sophia calls “the kind of excellence the Lord delights in.”
As most athletes know, excellence doesn’t always come with recognition that feels deserved, and Sophia never shies away from talking about these emotional challenges that come with being a female athlete. Especially at a small college, and as a dual sports competitor. The truth is that the stands aren’t always full. And while athletes don’t play “for the fans,” the lack of support can sting.
“There’s a certain tension in the air when the stands are full—when people are holding their breath, waiting to explode with a cheer,” she says. “We don’t get that often. Not like the men’s teams do.”
Just like many female athletes, she quickly acknowledged the differences between men’s and women’s sports. Not as a value judgment, but as an observation. In lacrosse men’s games are physical, fast, full contact. “It’s so fun to watch them rip a shot into the back of the net,” she admits. But women’s lacrosse? It’s strategic, graceful, and beautifully complex. “A feed from X to a cutter straight into the bottom left corner—it literally gives me goosebumps.”
Still, despite the beauty and skill, women’s sports often draw less attention. Sophia wrestles with that reality. She admits feeling guilty at times for how easily she’s accepted this. But she is also doing something about it. She shows up—for other women athletes, in whatever sport. Even when her own schedule is packed. Even when no one’s in the stands for her.
“I can’t control who shows up for my team,” she says. “But I can always show up for others.”
That mindset of serving, of showing up and choosing joy, has shaped her not just as an athlete, but as a person. Sports have taught her flexibility, resilience, and most importantly teachability, all of which are qualities that have earned her respect from both coaches and professors.
Being coached in multiple sports, by different people with different approaches, has made her adaptable.
Although the dual-sport athlete’s life can be draining physically, emotionally and mentally, Sophia believes it’s actually what keeps her grounded. The structure of practices and games helps her stay on schedule academically. And the support from teammates and coaches—especially when they show up to her games in the other sport—means the world.
“To receive feedback after a game is honestly my love language”
Overall, Sophia doesn’t feel like she’s treated differently as a woman in sports. Not by her teammates, coaches, or professors. There is respect among women in sports.
What is missing? Maybe just a little more recognition. A few more fans in the stands. A little more belief that athleticism is more than speed and strength—that it’s also IQ, skill, and relentless drive.
And in those areas women athletes thrive.
Quiet Strength, Loud Impact.
Sophia’s story is not loud. She’s not chasing headlines. She’s chasing excellence. Quietly. Consistently. With grit and grace.
There are a small handful of dual sport women athlete stories like Sophia’s, but the impact these athletes make is anything but small and they deserve to be talked about. They remind us all what it means to love something enough to give it everything you have. To keep playing your heart out, even when no one is watching. To choose joy, even when exhausted. To carry faith, strength, and keep a smile.
Sophia’s story is one of quiet strength, deep faith, and relentless effort. Women like Sophia are redefining what it means to be an athlete. Not just talented, but teachable. Not just competitive, but committed. Not just strong, but joyful in the grind.
Dual-sport women athletes may still be rare, but their impact is anything but small.
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