Editor’s Note: Cabrini sophomore communication major Amanda Cundari was a guest writer in Issue 25 of the Loquitur. She wrote this story on Cabrini’s four seniors on the men’s lacrosse team.
The four remaining seniors on Cabrini College’s elite lacrosse team have a story and a past that goes beyond the turf.
Captains John McSorley and Brian Hill both attended Ridley High School in Folsom, Pa. where they played against their other senior teammates Joe Arrell and Andrew Zelinski.
“We have always respected each other as players,” Zelinski said. “We all played in winning programs and we were the playoff teams,”
Zelinski attended Downingtown East High School where he took the title of State Champion his junior year.
Arrell, a team captain, attended Springfield (Delco) High School. Ridley High School was walking distance from his house.
“I could hear the Ridley’s football games’ cheers from my backyard,” Arrell said. “I’ve played against John and Brian my whole life.”
McSorley has offered the Cavaliers much dedication and talent receiving USILA Honorable Mention All-American accolades, CSAC First Team Honors in both 2010 and 2011; and not to mention CSAC Rookie of the Year in 2009. Growing up, McSorley played against Arrell in basketball and lacrosse.
“Me and Joe would always cover each other, in both sports,” McSorley said. “After finding out he was coming to Cabrini along with Brian and me, we all talked during the summer and were extremely excited.”
The mutual friends who were once rivals entered Cabrini and have definitely made their mark, helping Cabrini claim the sixth seed in the nation along with their 88-game CSAC winning streak.
Attack Brian Hill tallied his 100th career goal on Saturday, March 24, after an impressive performance of a career-high five goals, four assists, and nine points leading the Cavaliers with a 24-1 win over Shenandoah.
“I’ve watched Brian grow since freshman year when he was playing midfield,” McSorley said. “He stepped into lefty attack with no setback after Scott Reimer graduated. Each year Brian grew until he turned into the great player he is today.”
Currently, Hill ranks seventh in program history with 171 points and with 114 career goals. He is fifth on Cabrini’s all-time goal list.
The accomplished Hill is as much impressed with McSorley’s achievements.
“John used to start at offense,” Hill said. “His transition into defender was an amazing thing to watch considering how late he started at that position and now he is one of the best defense of players in the nation.”
The close seniors’ story doesn’t end there. After a long day of practice or a lengthy bus ride, the boys retreat back to the home they share in Conshohocken, Pa.
Out of the original 17 from their recruiting class, they remain the only solid four.
“We’re not just teammates, we are all great friends,” McSorley said. “Living together as the only four left, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The Cavaliers close out their regular season on Saturday, April 28, when they face Gwynedd-Mercy College in a CSAC match at 12 p.m. A win would give the Cavaliers a perfect season against CSAC opponents.
