2008 Woodie Awards
Senior Day Coming To Sherman Complex
Lacrosse To Honor Four Seniors Sunday
Dennis Rizzo
Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: Sports
There will be no postseason tournaments or championships for the lacrosse team this year. But for four seniors, this weekend's games mark something more special than any trophy. Sunday will be the last time UConn's seniors storm the turf of the Sherman Sports Complex together.
Leah Giffin, Meghan Nanfeldt, Robyn Pastuch and Emily Van Buitenen will all be graduating this year and taking with them both good and bad memories from their final season. For Pastuch however, UConn's disappointing record does not make saying goodbye any easier.
"I'm going to be sad saying goodbye," said Pastuch. "I am going to miss my teammates the most. I love all them. I'm sure my mom will be crying up in the stands too."
This year has been particularly special for Pastuch.
In her previous three seasons at UConn, Pastuch only started two games, both in her junior season. This year, however, Pastuch has become a cornerstone to the Huskies, starting all 14 games thus far.
"Starting this year has helped me step out of my shell," Pastuch said. "It took practice but I realized the team needed me."
Pastuch's impact is also evident on the stat sheet. This year she has netted 15 goals and tallied 12 assists, surpassing her totals from her previous three seasons combined. She also stands fourth and second on the team in each respective category.
California and Georgetown will by trying to spoil Pastuch's and the rest of the seniors' goodbye though. California (8-5) rides a four game winning streak into Storrs and will be trying to notch their first victory ever against the Huskies at 6:30 p.m. today. UConn (1-13, 0-5 Big East) will then conclude its season on Sunday against Georgetown (9-5, 2-3) at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
While head coach Megan Cersosimo may not be proud of UConn's record, she is pleased with the changes the team has made since the beginning of the season.
"This team continued to show up even when things got really bad," said Cersosimo. "They all learned who exactly their teammates are, which is important with such a young team."
Leah Giffin, Meghan Nanfeldt, Robyn Pastuch and Emily Van Buitenen will all be graduating this year and taking with them both good and bad memories from their final season. For Pastuch however, UConn's disappointing record does not make saying goodbye any easier.
"I'm going to be sad saying goodbye," said Pastuch. "I am going to miss my teammates the most. I love all them. I'm sure my mom will be crying up in the stands too."
This year has been particularly special for Pastuch.
In her previous three seasons at UConn, Pastuch only started two games, both in her junior season. This year, however, Pastuch has become a cornerstone to the Huskies, starting all 14 games thus far.
"Starting this year has helped me step out of my shell," Pastuch said. "It took practice but I realized the team needed me."
Pastuch's impact is also evident on the stat sheet. This year she has netted 15 goals and tallied 12 assists, surpassing her totals from her previous three seasons combined. She also stands fourth and second on the team in each respective category.
California and Georgetown will by trying to spoil Pastuch's and the rest of the seniors' goodbye though. California (8-5) rides a four game winning streak into Storrs and will be trying to notch their first victory ever against the Huskies at 6:30 p.m. today. UConn (1-13, 0-5 Big East) will then conclude its season on Sunday against Georgetown (9-5, 2-3) at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
While head coach Megan Cersosimo may not be proud of UConn's record, she is pleased with the changes the team has made since the beginning of the season.
"This team continued to show up even when things got really bad," said Cersosimo. "They all learned who exactly their teammates are, which is important with such a young team."
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