Photo by Victoria Durgin
By Abby Condon, Staff Writer
The Puerto Rico Clasico was the last opportunity for the Susquehanna women’s lacrosse team to cradle their lacrosse sticks on the field for the season.
The season was cut short due to the worldwide pandemic of the coronavirus after several games had already been played. Six SU Riverhawk seniors—Mel Barracato, Libby Dex, Stephanie Dowling, Christine Hoerman, Caroline Ray, and Gabi Toohey—did not finish out their last collegiate competition in the Landmark Conference playoffs. However, they did have the opportunity to be recognized for their athletic talents they brought to Susquehanna University.
Mel Barracato, a double major in strategic communications and Italian said it was heartbreaking to see the season end this way and had looked forward to her last season injury-free.
“I loved every season of being a student-athlete at SU. Our athletic community is unlike any other. Every team, coach, athlete, trainer, etc. are so supportive of each other and it really makes for an incredible community to be a part of. Playing lacrosse at Susquehanna was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” Barracato said.
Team captain and business administration major Libby Dex tallied a total of 510 career saves for a .467 career save total. She was an All-Landmark Conference selection for two straight years and was leading the conference for the 2020 spring season with 27 ground balls and 76 saves when it ended.
Stephanie Dowling, an advertising and marketing communications major said it “was completely heartbreaking for the spring season to be canceled. I’m just extremely thankful for my coaches and teammates over the past 4 years.”
Her advice to the underclassmen is to “never take anything for granted” and “treat every practice and game-like it’s going to be your last because you truly don’t know when it could be.”
Christine Hoerman, a business administration major from Glenmoore, PA, had a season-high of 3 goals vs Lycoming in her sophomore year and was solely responsible for 22 points in the 2019 lacrosse season.
Senior guard Caroline Ray, a marketing major from Portland, Maine, made significant contributions to the lacrosse team throughout her SU athletic career with her final spring season starting all six games.
Senior attacker Gabi Toohey, an early-childhood education major from Oradell, New Jersey ended this year posting her best season in scoring with a total of 31 points with 6 goals made vs. DeSales on February 22.
All of these senior women athletes led the 2020 team to a 3-4 start playing non-conference opponents for a .429 percentage, challenging Wheaton College and Bridgewater State losing in close contests, and decisively defeating Immaculata College, King’s College and Lycoming College.