WritingHERstory: Finding A Home Away From Home

Hailing from Syracuse, New York, where harsh winters and a deep-rooted lacrosse culture shape athletes early, Mia Pozzi didn’t come to Virginia Tech searching for an easy path. She was looking for something simpler, a place that felt right and like home. Growing up in a lacrosse environment, Pozzi developed a level of toughness and grit that followed her to Blacksburg, even if she didn’t fully realize it at the time. Before Virginia Tech, she was already part of a winning culture, helping lead her high school team to sectional, regional, and state championships, setting up the tone for the kind of player she would become. 

Now a member of the Virginia Tech lacrosse team, Pozzi has turned that foundation into something even bigger. Since her arrival, she has made a meaningful impact, earning Third Team All ACC and IWLCA Second Team All Region honors while growing into one of the team’s most trusted playmakers. Pozzi holds all her confidence and accomplishments to her teammates and knew from the start that Virginia Tech was the place for her. 

“Virginia Tech’s atmosphere is amazing. When I visited, they [the coaching staff] took me to a football game, and it just sealed the deal. You could feel the passion and energy; everyone was so devoted and involved.”  

There was no dramatic recruitment moment, no slow realization, just a stadium full of screaming Hokies and a campus jumping with energy. For Pozzi, it was enough. Different, but in the best way. And that difference turned into everything she needed. Because stepping into Virginia Tech was not just a change in scenery, it was a change in identity. 

When Pozzi first arrived, she was not the loudest voice on the field or the most dominant presence in the room, and she will be the first to tell you that. 

That growth did not happen overnight. After stepping into her role early in her career, Pozzi has developed into a consistent starter and a player her team relies on in big moments. It is the kind of progression that reflects both her work ethic and the trust this program has built around her.  

Family is a word that comes up a lot when Pozzi speaks about this team. These women have battled alongside each other through the good and bad, yet they have come out closer and stronger together. 

“We’re all so close; it really feels like a family. There’s so much trust in one another, and we all work so hard together. That’s what makes this team what it is.” 

That connection shows up everywhere, but especially on the field. This 2026 season, her junior year, Pozzi has put together a stat line that speaks for itself, recording 54 points off 34 goals and 17 assists, while leading the team in both assists and draw controls. It is the kind of balance that makes her just as accomplished creating opportunities as she is finishing them, and the kind of reward that does not happen without complete trust in the people around you. 

When the moment calls for it, Pozzi delivers. Whether it was a five-goal performance and game-winning goal at Louisville or multi-point games that helped fuel key wins throughout the season, Pozzi has proven she can step up when it matters most. Still, she does not talk about it like someone focused on individual success. 

“My confidence has definitely grown. Our coaches push us to be better every day, and that builds a lot of character. Everyone on this team is striving to be the best version of themselves. When the coaches challenged our draw unit to improve, I was ready to take on that role.” 

That willingness to step up has become a defining part of her game. What started as growth has turned into consistency, and now into something even bigger, as Pozzi closes in on the single-season draw control record. It is the kind of milestone that usually comes with individual attention, but she continues to frame it as something shared. 

“It would mean a lot. We’re coming up on our last game, and we’ve had so much success, but our coaches really challenged us to get better in that area, and we did. To see that pay off would mean so much, not just for me but for our whole team.” 

That team first mindset shows up in everything she does. 

It is simple, but it says everything. Because for Pozzi, success has never really been about standing out, it is about showing up for the people around her. Representing Virginia Tech is something she carries with pride, but also with understanding of what it means. 

“We absolutely love representing the Hokies. It’s such a special thing to be a part of. There’s so much to love about it, and with that comes a lot of responsibility.” 

When asked to put it all into words, she pauses, not because she does not know, but because there is not just one answer. 

“I don’t know if I could describe it in just one word. It’s so hard because there are so many special things about Tech. But I’d say pride is a big one, it’s about our team, and we love being part of it.” 

Coming from Syracuse, Pozzi did not just find a program. She found a place that challenged her, shaped her, and gave her the confidence to grow into the player and person she is today. A place that turned timid into trust, and a team that became something a lot more like home. 

As the Hokies have now wrapped their season, Pozzi led the final game vs. then-No. 20 Virginia, scoring four goals, but I bet if you asked her how she did it, she would give all the credit to the women who surround her.