For the second year in a row, the Lady Cavs are champions again of the Colonial States Athletic Conference. Cabrini College’s field hockey team defended its title against Gwynedd-Mercy, winning 3-1 on Saturday, Nov. 6.
The women never had doubted their ability to repeat the CSAC title. Before their 2010 season began the field hockey team put in a lot of work in the off season to prepare themselves. This preparation therefore lead to domination of the CSAC once again.
“I told our team if we play the way we played last year and work just as hard as we are now then we have a chance of being champions again,” Lauren Alessi, junior forward, said.
And by looking at the final result of the season, Alessi was right. The Lady Cavs dominated their conference with a record of 7-1.
“We click so well. We have a great bond on and off the field and I couldn’t ask for anything better,” junior midfielder Maura Gordon said.
After losing their first opening conference game to Immaculata, the women knew from there that every team was going to give them a run for their money as defending champions.
“To get to this point it wasn’t just one individual, it was a team effort. All 11 players are put on the field and we clicked together and we competed and won as a team,” Alessi said.
Before entering the playoffs the ladies felt confident. In the semifinals they shattered Immaculata in a 4-0 victory, symbolizing payback from the upset back in September, which then lead them to a sweet victory in the championship verse the No. 2 Gwynedd-Mercy.
“I was pretty nervous because it was such a big game but also excited because I had a good feeling we could repeat it again,” Katie Solewin, sophomore forward, said.
“Our team clicked at the right moment. It took us a while to warm up but we all have learned to work together so well which make us a very good team,” Solewin said.
In the championship, senior goalkeeper and CSAC Player of the Year Caitlin Donahue posted five saves for her 43rd career win.
Alessi and junior midfielder Maura Gordon scored a goal each in the match up. Junior forward Stephanie Campanaro led the team offensively as she has done for most of the season tallying three points on one goal and one assist.
With this victory head coach Jackie Neary has clinched her 12th conference title at Cabrini. Neary has now achieved 10 CSAC titles in women’s lacrosse as well as two in field hockey.
“We have the same strategy as we did in regular season. We play like we do and win that way, no need to change anything for the tournament,” Gordon said.
On Wednesday, Nov. 10 the Cavs travel to Middlebury, VT to battle No.12 Middlebury College in the first round for the NCAA Tournament.
The winner of that game will proceed to Ursinus College to meet Tufts University on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m.
The 12-7 Cavaliers are humble about going into the tournament and are going with the same winning mentality they had entering the CSAC championship. They believe if they continue with the same intensity and hard work, they could be very successful in the NCAA tournament.
“Every player on our team is extremely talented, we have every reason to win,” Gordon said.
—————————————–
Visit NCAA.com for the Division III Field Hockey Bracket