Jessica WebbThe Cabrini women’s field hockey team may be off to a slower start than they planned, but they are confident that things will pick up soon, they just have to work out some of the kinks.
Coach Jackie Neary, who is returning to her coaching position for the 10th consecutive season, said, “The girls are working hard, we are just hoping for a win.”
So far this season, the team has been unable to pick up a win. Every game played so far this season has only been a loss by one point.
Last Saturday’s game against Misericordia remained 0-0 for much of the game, until a player was able to slide one by the goalie, Joanne Musiolowski, who also had many key saves.
Neary said that under the leadership of Senior Captains Ann Tye and Mariel Murtha and Junior Captains Tami Scanlan and Rebbecca Gallagher there should be a win in the near future.
As for long-term goals, they team hopes to capture the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship. The team has made an appearance for the last three years in the playoffs, losing every time. Most recently, they lost to those dreaded Eagle Road rivals, Eastern University. Neary said, “We beat them in the regular season, but lost in the playoffs. They are our nemesis.”
Neary said that preseason went very good this year. Helping the team was a special coach that came during preseason to help condition and strengthen the girls. Neary said that this benefits the girls in their playing.
The team consists of 10 freshman and 15 returnees. Neary hopes that the freshman will learn immensely from the upperclassmen to develop into good players. Among the freshman, Neary expects a lot from Cat McCue. “She has potential for an impact,” she said.
Among the returners, Neary expects to see big things from sophomore Kerri Ricker and senior goalie Joanne Musiolowski. Neary said, “She may be the anchor of our defense. If we score, and she keeps the other team out, we will have a good season.”
Neary hopes that Cabrini students will take the time to support not only the field hockey team by coming out to games, but to all the sports. Neary said that Cabrini students are already great about attending games. “We had a great turn-out Saturday and we always have a lot of support,” Neary said, “I have been at Cabrini so long because I love the student body.”
Neary said that the team is not satisfied with just making the play-offs this year. Ultimately, they want to take home the title. She said, “I am hoping we are hungry this year.”
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