Lady cavs kick off new season

Shannon Keough

The Cabrini womens’ soccer team returned to the turf on Tuesday, Aug. 18 for the first day of preseason behind head coach Ken Prothero in his eighth season leading the Cavs.

Memories from last season’s heartbreaking loss to Marywood University in the semifinal round of the Colonial Athletic Conference still linger in the back of many of the returning players’ heads.

Cabrini’s run for the championship was cut short in the last six minutes and 38 seconds of the game.

Six minutes and 38 seconds has become the theme for this preseason.

Cabrini was leading 1-0 for more than 83 minutes until Marywood answered and tied the game up.

Marywood then went on to win in penalty kicks, beating the Cavaliers 3-0.

“After last year’s loss we knew that we would really have to work hard in the beginning of the season so that a loss like that never happens again. In my last year at Cabrini I would like to win the CSAC and advance to the NCAA,” Amanda Ribakusky, senior marketing major, said.

Although the Cavs lost big contributors they still have key returners that will help lead them during the season.

Senior forward Sabina DeGisi is a three-time CSAC First Team selection. She led the Cavs during the 2008 season with 25 points, having 10 goals and five assists.

“This preseason has been intense and hot, but we really have come together as a team and worked hard to get through it. Hopefully all that hard work and sweat will pay off at the end of the season,” Sabina DeGisi, senior communication major, said.

Junior Dana Nardello early childhood and elementary education major, and senior Jenna Laufenberg will be in the middle of the field for the Cavs. They both registered eight points and were second-team all-conference honorees last season.

“This is a good opportunity for us to come together as a team and really prove to everyone that we have a good chance of going to the NCAA’s,” Nardello, said.

Cabrini begins its regular season play Tuesday, Sept. 1 at Franklin and Marshall at 5 pm. The Cavs will host the Cabrini Soccer Festival Fri, Sept. 4 and Sat. Sept. 5.