Daily Pilot High School Athlete of the Week:

Excitement, anxiety and nervousness shot through Sierra Michaelsen’s body and she wasn’t even on a lacrosse playing field.

This was away from the grass, and instead at John Wayne Airport, where Michaelsen was boarding a flight to Maryland, leaving her mother, Nancy Lance, and stepfather, Darren Lance. This would be the first time she would be away from home for more than a week, on her own, without supervision. All grown up at age 16.

But as she approached closer to her destination the nerves subsided. She knew this is where she belonged. She saw the bigger picture. It wasn’t about being nervous. It was about being prepared for the future.

Michaelsen, a Newport Harbor High junior, wants to play lacrosse in college. She initially fell in love with the game because of the challenges involved. A trip to the East Coast proved to be another. That’s where she went to play in more games, against competitors who play year-round, who live and breathe the sport.

“This is all pointing to college,” Michaelsen said. “It’s all going to the future.

“It’s crazy to think how far [college] is and yet how close it is. It baffles me to think about it.”

When Michaelsen is not playing for the Sailors, she competes with her club, X Team. Senior year will be here soon and she wants to improve her game. Until then, she’s helping Newport Harbor this season.

Last weekend, the midfielder, who is one of three captains on the team, scored six goals to lead the Sailors to a 2-1 finish in the season-opening Rose Bowl Jamboree.

She notched two goals and won six of her nine draw attempts in the Sailors’ 4-3 win against Trabuco Hills. Michaelsen, the Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week, was also thrilled to score two goals in a 7-5 win over Back Bay rival Corona del Mar. She also forced two turnovers and had an interception against the Sea Kings.

She scored another two goals and had an assist in an 8-5 loss to Foothill.

Being a lefty helps. Michaelsen, who earned first-team All-Sunset League honors last year, finds different scoring angles than most and can also set most teams off balance. Yet defense might be her strongest asset, and she enjoys playing as a defender.