The Alvernia University women’s lacrosse team officially welcomed 7-year-old Izzy Rivera to the team in November when she signed her national letter of intent to join the Golden Wolves at a signing-day ceremony on campus.
Associate athletic director and women’s lacrosse head coach Megan Corrigan announced the signing as part of the lacrosse team’s partnership with Team Impact.
Izzy, a second-grader from the Wernersville area, has battled through a rare congenital heart defect and is a survivor of both open-heart surgery and emergency brain surgery following a seizure and aneurysm.
“We are so lucky to have someone to be a part of our program that has so much joy and positive energy,” said Corrigan. “After our first meeting with Izzy and the team, I knew this was going to be an impactful experience, not only for Izzy, but for our team as well.”
For the next two years, Izzy will join the team for games, practices, and other team events. Women’s lacrosse is the first program for Alvernia athletics to partner with Team Impact.
The NCAA and Team Impact announced a partnership earlier this year to strengthen the collaboration between Team Impact and collegiate athletic programs nationwide.
“Izzy is the true representation of what it means to be strong and brave,” said senior captain Kayleigh Kight. “We couldn’t be more excited to have her always remind us that it is not the wins and losses we will remember, it is the experience and family we made.”
“I’m excited to have such wonderful women in Izzy’s corner cheering her on and celebrating all the amazing things I know she can do,” said Izzy’s mom, Kelly. “The women’s lacrosse team is another set of role models Izzy can look up to. I hope that they can find inspiration that even on your hardest days, we all have that inner strength to find the positive.”
The team will open its 2026 season Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 4 p.m. against Marymount University.
