Sam Forrest’s college lacrosse career changed direction after a serious hip condition ended her 2023 season. She underwent reconstructive surgery, spent approximately ten months in rehabilitation and returned to competition in February 2024.
That comeback preceded her strongest years at North Carolina. Forrest became UNC’s primary matchup defender, helped the Tar Heels win the 2025 NCAA championship and received major defensive honors in consecutive seasons. She later represented the United States, won a world championship and entered the Women’s Lacrosse League with the Maryland Charm.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Samantha Lynne Forrest |
| Role | Lacrosse defender |
| Hometown | Glastonbury, Connecticut |
| High school | Glastonbury High School |
| College | University of North Carolina |
| National team | United States |
| Professional team | Maryland Charm |
| Height | 5 feet 5 inches |
A Multi-Sport Background Led Her to North Carolina
Forrest arrived at UNC with experience across three sports. At Glastonbury High School, she competed in lacrosse, soccer and indoor track while earning recognition in each discipline.
Her high-school lacrosse record included 181 goals across three seasons and two All-America selections. She also played in the Under Armour All-America Senior Game and participated in the U.S. U15 Development Team. Inside Lacrosse ranked her No. 24 among the incoming players for the 2022 college season.
Soccer and track formed another substantial part of her athletic background. She became Glastonbury’s all-time leading scorer in soccer, contributed to a state championship in 2019 and earned All-America recognition as a senior. Her indoor-track record included state and New England titles.
Although she produced significant scoring numbers in high school, her college role developed on defense. Forrest appeared in eight games as a UNC freshman in 2022. She later said North Carolina had been her preferred destination for both academics and athletics, citing the support she received from teammates and the wider community.
Hip Dysplasia Ended Her 2023 Season
Forrest made two appearances during her sophomore season before an injury removed her from competition. In a later interview with USA Lacrosse, she explained that she had been born with hip dysplasia, a condition affecting the formation of the hip joint. She had also torn her labrum.
Her surgical treatment began on April 10, 2023, with a periacetabular osteotomy. The operation was accompanied by a labral repair and treatment for femoroacetabular impingement.
The procedure began a recovery without a straightforward precedent for her situation. According to USA Lacrosse’s account, her doctors and athletic trainers had not previously guided a field-sport athlete through the same return. Her rehabilitation plan therefore combined medical research with gradual practical assessment.
Forrest’s adoption was relevant to how she explained the diagnosis. She told USA Lacrosse that she had been adopted from Kalispell, Montana, and likely would not have known about the inherited condition even if she had information about her biological parents. That personal detail formed part of her explanation for why earlier hip problems had remained unresolved.
A Ten-Month Rehabilitation Tested Her Patience
The early stages of rehabilitation involved basic movements rather than lacrosse. Forrest said she had underestimated how difficult it would be to walk normally again and described the months after surgery as physically and emotionally demanding.
Former UNC athletic trainer Shannon Murphy became an important source of support. Forrest credited Murphy with helping her navigate the recovery while she worked toward ordinary tasks such as carrying groceries and moving independently.
Progress also required restraint. Forrest described herself as eager to push forward, while Murphy repeatedly encouraged her to slow down and follow the rehabilitation schedule. She continued to believe she would play again, even as the medical and training staff remained cautious about the possible outcome.
After approximately ten months of rehabilitation, Forrest returned against Florida on February 17, 2024. She had expected only limited late-game action but entered within the opening minutes. Her first college start followed against Virginia on February 23.
She eventually played 14 games and started 12 during the 2024 season. Her totals included seven ground balls and 11 caused turnovers. UNC also named her to the All-ACC Academic Team, and she received the John Lotz Award at the program’s RAMMY Awards.
Her 2025 Return Produced a National Breakthrough
The 2025 season gave Forrest her first uninterrupted opportunity to hold a regular starting role. She started all 22 games for a North Carolina team that completed an undefeated campaign.
Her responsibilities often involved marking the opponent’s leading attacker. Across the season, she recorded 26 ground balls, 18 caused turnovers, four draw controls and two goals. Those numbers provided only part of the picture because her primary assignment was preventing offensive production rather than creating it.
That role became especially visible in the NCAA championship game against Northwestern. Forrest was matched against Madison Taylor, who had set the NCAA single-season record with 109 goals. Taylor finished without a goal on three shots and committed six turnovers as UNC won 12–8. The result came from North Carolina’s collective defensive work, with Forrest handling the central individual matchup.
Her performance brought several postseason distinctions. The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association named her the 2025 Division I Defender of the Year. She also made the NCAA All-Tournament Team, First-Team All-ACC and the IWLCA First-Team All-South Region.
All-America recognition came from multiple groups. Nike Lacrosse Media selected her for its first team, while the IWLCA and USA Lacrosse placed her on their second teams. Forrest also finished among the Tewaaraton Award’s Top 25 nominees.
Forrest Maintained Her Defensive Standing in 2026
Forrest returned as a graduate student and started all 21 games in her final UNC season. She collected 30 ground balls and caused 13 turnovers while continuing to take primary responsibility for difficult attacking matchups.
The Atlantic Coast Conference named her its 2026 Defender of the Year. She repeated as a First-Team All-ACC selection and received first-team All-America recognition from the IWLCA, USA Lacrosse and Nike Lacrosse Media. She also earned another place on the NCAA All-Tournament Team and appeared among the Tewaaraton Top 25 for a second consecutive year.
North Carolina reached the NCAA championship game again. In the semifinal against Maryland, Forrest described UNC’s approach as aggressive, high-pressure defense designed to make its opponent uncomfortable. The Tar Heels won 16–6.
The final produced a different result. Northwestern defeated UNC 14–11 on May 24, ending Forrest’s college career. She therefore finished with one NCAA championship from 2025 and a runner-up result in 2026.
International and Professional Opportunities Followed
Forrest’s international progression began before her final college season. She represented the United States at the inaugural Pan-American Women’s Lacrosse Championship in June 2025.
The U.S. defeated Canada 21–11 in the final on June 30. Forrest tied for third on the American roster with five ground balls, helping the team qualify for the following year’s world championship.
USA Lacrosse selected her for the 22-player squad that competed at the 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship in Tokyo. The tournament ran from July 24 through August 2, with the United States completing an unbeaten campaign and defeating Canada 16–4 in the final. USA Lacrosse’s tournament review included Forrest among the defenders who disrupted possessions and moved the ball into transition.
Her professional opportunity arrived through the inaugural WLL College Draft. On April 15, 2026, the Maryland Charm selected her with the sixth overall pick. Official WLL and USA Lacrosse profiles list Forrest as a Maryland Charm defender.
Forrest’s Recovery Changed the Direction of Her Career
Forrest’s rehabilitation led to more than a return to competition. She became UNC’s primary matchup defender, handling leading opposing attackers before earning opportunities with the United States and Maryland Charm.
Her record is defined by the level at which she returned: an NCAA championship, major defensive honors and progression into international and professional lacrosse.