Erick “EZ” Zarzecki is well-liked and can be described as an outgoing, funny guy. On the Cabrini men’s lacrosse team, he has been the starting goalie for the past three years and is a team leader who uses his skills and size greatly to his advantage.
Zarzecki is originally from Baltimore, Md. He started playing the position in elementary school. Zarzecki attended Pikesville High School and some of his accomplishments there included being named an All-American and he helped his team win a state championship his senior year.
Zarzecki, junior psychology and criminology double major, was named Cabrini’s starting goalkeeper as a freshman.
“As far as a career, I want to do something with sports psychology,” Zarzecki said.
In his first year at Cabrini, Zarzecki won 15 games while posting a 7.81 goals against average.
“A freshman starter is not very common. Usually, you have a junior or senior,” head coach Steve Colfer said. “He came in and won the position that year and beat out two upperclassmen.”
Zarzecki is very competitive and even during practice, he does not like to give up goals. Colfer has seen him grow through the years and has seen him mature.
“He is taking coaching better and asking questions and interacting with the coaches a little bit more,” Colfer said.
Zarzecki’s willingness to improve to become the best goalie he can be is something he strives for.
“I would do anything I need for my team to get us to have a great season,” Zarzecki said.
His teammates agree that he is someone you want to be around, both on and off the field.
JT Irvin, junior attack, says that Zarzecki “is without a doubt one of the best goalies in the nation.” Irvin also describes how Zarzecki is very funny and has a distinct laugh that is “the funniest thing in the entire world.”
In his free time, Zarzecki likes to play video games, watch television, hang out with friends and toss the football around the Kingswood apartment complex.
“He is a lot of fun to hang out with,” Andy Kvech, junior defenseman, said. “You know when he gets excited because he has a big mouth so he smiles real big.”
This season, Zarzecki wants to help the Cavs win another CSAC Championship and advance all the way to the National Championship game in the NCAA tournament.
“The last two years we have lost in the second round, so we want to get past that hump,” Zarzecki said.
“We love all the Cabrini players, coaches and parents; they have become our other family. We love Cabrini lacrosse and Erick loves it,” Kathie Zarzecki, Erick’s mother and one of his biggest supporters, said. “It has taught him that you are only as good as your last save, so he is always working at improving his skills.”
Zarzecki would like to be involved with lacrosse when he graduates because it is a sport he loves and wants its growth to continue. He would one day love to coach, possibly as a head coach at the college level.
“Lacrosse has taught Erick about the agony of defeat as well as the thrill of victory,” Kathie Zarzecki said. “The team and the players are very important to Erick. They have a strong bond and truly are a team of brothers.”
