TOWSON, Md. — Switzerland’s Kristy Grovom might be San Diego-born and NCAA-trained, but she hardly qualifies as an American ringer. No, she’s as Swiss as chocolate and cheese.
Grovom scored four goals, including the game-winner in overtime, as Switzerland defeated Argentina 8-7 in a World Lacrosse Women’s Championship Pool E match Saturday. The Swiss (1-1) are tied for second place in the pool with their opponent Sunday, the Haudeonsaunee Nation.
The daughter of a former minor league baseball player and Swiss-born flight attendant, Grovom gained an appreciation early in life for the virtues of sport and travel. She moved to the East Coast to play college lacrosse at Washington College on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. In 65 career games, the 5-foot-11 attacker scored 116 goals and pulled down 117 draw controls.
“I thought my lacrosse career was over. Then I found Zurich Lacrosse,” Grovom said. “There I developed an even greater passion for lacrosse, developing better stick skills for European lacrosse. I got a chance to try out for the national team and the girls are just so great. I just fell in love with the team and what Swiss Lacrosse stands for. I am Swiss as well. I love Switzerland.”
During college, Grovom traveled to Bermuda, Belize, Guatemala and Tanzania as a Nourish International ventures director. But she always made time to visit her grandparents in Switzerland each summer and now she lives in Zurich. She has studied German for the last nine months to better assimilate to her new home.
“I grew up in California and played lacrosse in Maryland, and yeah, I decided to take it across the Atlantic and continue the lacrosse journey,” Grovom said.
But there’s more to accomplish in Towson. Making its second world championship appearance, Switzerland hopes to improve on its No. 19 world ranking.
Trailing 4-1 early against Argentina — one of four teams making its world championship debut here — the Swiss clawed their way back into the game.
Grovom scored twice in the fourth quarter, putting Switzerland ahead by a goal with each tally. She converted a Stefi Burger feed in front to give the Swiss a 7-6 lead with 1:17 remaining.
But Argentina earned multiple free-position opportunities in the last minute, and Mechi O’Neil (four goals) buried an 11-meter with 17 seconds left to send the game to overtime.
Burger won the draw to start overtime. Anouk Andres (three goals, one assist) passed out of a free position to Grovom, who came curling around the goal and beat goalie Alex de Jesus for the game-winning goal.
Grovom’s teammates mobbed her to celebrate on the field.
“Our cheer is ‘samma,’ which means together,” Grovom said. “I think that embodies what Swiss lacrosse is.”