Corey Saccone, Contributing writer
When the University decided to get a woman’s lacrosse team last year, expectations were not set. While there were some recruits, some of the girls who tried out had never even picked up a lacrosse stick before. It was a struggle right from the beginning.
The team had an overall record of 5-9. Stephanie Marran led the team with 45 goals, 14 assists and 52 points overall. Goalies Brittany Millsap recorded 123 saves. Alix Murray chipped in 37 points, Christina Minneci with 24 points, and Joanna Chadwick added 21 in the 2012 campaign.
Improvement was set in stone once Leo went from a roster of 18 girls in the inaugural season to having 25 girls on the roster to start 2013. With the roster being set higher, the ladies have more depth and fresh legs off the bench in practice and during games. Seven extra girls added to bring the intensity and add intimidation to the team.
“Although we play really tough teams this year that are ranked in the nation, I don’t doubt that we will bring everything to the table and show these teams that hard work pays off. This year should be fun and competitive, especially with our talented freshman class as well as our returners,” said Sophomore Christina Minneci.
For one girl on the team, this is truly her last year. Senior and Captain Alyssa Viscomi will be graduating at the end of the semester, and will move on from the game of lacrosse. The St. Cloud, Florida product came to Saint Leo on a basketball scholarship and made the transition over to lacrosse last year. She never saw or picked up a lacrosse stick in her life and now she’s playing collegiately. She recorded 6 goals, 2 assists, and earned 27 ground balls in her first season.
“My goals for the year are to go all out. To practice and play with a level of intensity that doesn’t mark us a second year program because we are better than that. I think we are going to surprise a lot of people this year. We need to play to our potential every single time we step out on that field,” said Viscomi.
The Lions seem rejuvenated and have much to prove. This program started from the bottom and is now working their way towards the top step by step. Come out and support the Lions at their home games on the new turf stadium.
