GREENFIELD — Riley Thayer made it official where she will continue her field hockey career on Thursday. 

The Pioneer Valley Regional senior signed her National Letter of Intent to Lasell University in Newton on Thursday at Greenfield High School — where she played field hockey on Green Wave’s co-op program. Thayer will join the Laser squad in the fall. 

“It feels really good to not have to stress about it any more,” Thayer said. “Now it’s just the excitement of going there and everything coming together.” 

Thayer got to spend time on the Lasell campus, meeting players on the team as well as getting to know field hockey coach Jess Paulin. 

After taking an overnight visit, she knew it was the place she wanted to be. 

“When I first had my overnight everyone was so welcoming,” Thayer said. “The players were so welcoming, the coaches were so welcoming. It just felt like home for the next four years and I was just looking for a place that felt like home. Small school, good academics and a place I could see myself for the next four years.” 

Thayer has been a key player during her time with both the Pioneer and Greenfield field hockey teams. 

She was a big part of the Panther team that reached back-to-back Western Mass. Class C championship games during her freshman and sophomore seasons, helping Pioneer reach the state tournament in both of those seasons. As a sophomore, Thayer led the Panthers in scoring and helped them reach the Round of 16 of the Div. 4 state tournament. 

When Pioneer didn’t have enough players to field a team her junior year, the Panthers co-oped with Greenfield. What might have been a tough transition for some was made easier by the fact that the Green Wave are coached by her mom, Erin Thayer. 

Riley enjoyed the experience of having her mom coach her during her final two seasons, as Greenfield reached the Western Mass. Class C finals both years and also punched a ticket to the state tournament both years. 

“Transitioning from Pioneer to Greenfield was great,” Thayer said. “I got to play for my mom which was amazing.”

Erin Thayer was the most thrilled when the co-op came together, relishing the chance to coach her daughter and assure she’d be at every one of her games. 

“That was very special to get to spend the last two years with her,” Erin Thayer said. “It was hard to know she was playing a game and I wasn’t there to watch. I missed so much of the first four years of her playing and spending the last two years with her — which are supposed to be the best two years — has been priceless. To share the love of the game is pretty awesome.” 

Erin said Riley continues to work hard and improve her game, noting how much better she’s gotten even since this past field hockey season came to an end. With the way she works, Greenfield’s longtime field hockey coach said Riley will only continue to grow and get better throughout her college career. 

“She’s grown tremendously,” Erin Thayer said. “Even now, I saw her play in a prospect day and even from where our season ended to now, she’s continued to improve. I think she’s excited to get out of here and turn it up a notch.” 

While excited to be joining the Lasell field hockey program — which is two years removed from a 15-2 season and fresh off an 11-12 record this past campaign — Riley said she’s also looking forward to experiencing a new city in Newton. 

“I’m looking forward to meeting all new people and not being in such a small town,” Riley said. “Here, everyone knows everyone. It’s going to be a whole new chapter.”