Jonelle HaykelThe Lady Cavaliers lacrosse season has come to the finish of its seventh consecutive successful season at Cabrini. During the season many monumental moments have made history in Cabrini Athletics. Coach Jackie Neary has been guiding the team to victory since 1997 and has accomplished her 100th win this season. This year’s three senior captains, Anne Dougherty, Maureen McQuade and Kelli Romano, Cabrini College’s record holder, finish off their career with the Lady Cavs.
A crucial let down of the season was losing a recent game against The College of New Jersey on Cabrini’s home field Saturday April 24. “From losing we get to learn what we need to fine tune for our PAC tournament,” said Neary. TCNJ has been used to playing at a different level of competition and Neary thinks that is partly to blame for their loss. The team has taken what they learned to practice harder and improve their faults. “We have really challenged the other teams this year to work hard. The other teams feel they need to bring out their A-game when they play us,” Romano said. “There was some competion on the team this year because everyone was so good. We would have to compete with one another just for the chance to play.”
Another season heartbreaker was the upset to Eastern University, 13-11. The loss ended the team’s 40 game winning streak and was the first time the team has ever lost to Eastern.
At the time the team entered the PAC tournament their season’s conference record was 12-4. The team was looking forward to play Gwened Mercy during the first round of the PAC tournament. “As long as we play with a lot of heart I have no worries about winning,” said junior starting goalie Jamie Knobler.
The team defeated Gwedned Mercy during the regular season on April 16 with a score of 20-5. McQuade contributed to the team’s victory during the game while scoring her career-high of six goals.
Romano opened the Gwedned Mercy game scoring her 300th point of her Cabrini-lacrosse career. Romano leaves Cabrini as the leading all time scorer for Cabrini’s women lacrosse program. This season alone she has had 47 goals, 21 assist, and 68 points. During her whole time playing lacrosse with the Lady Cavs she has 119 goals, 114 assists, and 305 points as of Saturday April 24.
Romano has also contributed her athletism to the Lady Cav’s soccer team. Since she has been a part of the program she helped build the teams
Since Romano’s freshman year she planned on playing soccer and lacrosse for Cabrini, but unfortunately her dreams were put on hold. ” My dreams were shattered because I couldn’t play soccer and lacrosse for the whole year” Romano was red shirted her freshman year due to a knee injury. She has been a key player of tever since shes been back on the field. Romano has made more than just goals while playing at Cabrini.
Romano has made a lot of goals, and friends in the process. “I take no credit without my teammates,” Romano said. Her teammates will be missing her next year. “You could always count on her to get to the ball,” sophmore lacrosse teammate Amy Pia said. Pia also holds the record of being the second leading scorer of this seasons team with 20 goals, and 4 assists.
Romano’s most memorable experience at Cabrini was when the Lady Cav’s pulled through during the 2003 soccer PAC championship game against Gwened Mercy. Winning the Championship was a “huge shocker” because the team was not seated high before the tournament begain. “When I was playing on the field when we were tied I looked up in the sky and I saw a circle in the clouds that had a rainbow inside and I just new there was hope” Romano said. The next thing Romano new she was taking a shot on goal for the tie braking shoot out. The Lady Cav’s ended the monumental game with a score of 4-3 “It was a perfect ending.”
After graduation Romano plans on aspiring coaching in some aspect but is not sure where at this time. She will always “I wouldn’t change a thing if I could.”
Posted to the web by: Jonelle Haykel
