Senior Day Reflections

The Crusaders (9-2 overall, 4-0 Patriot League) will return home this Saturday to play host to No. 19 Navy (9-3, 3-1 Patriot League) at 1 p.m. With this weekend’s game being Senior Day, we checked in with the senior members of this year’s squad to find out a little more about their time on Mount St. James. Here is what Tori Cini, Maria Comerford, Lauren Drillock, Brynne Menen, Kelsey Minister, Jessica Postiglione and Mary Pat Sayre had to say.

What are your best memories of playing lacrosse at Holy Cross?
MPS: My best memories of playing lacrosse at Holy Cross are the countless hours spent with my teammates. Whether we are practicing, lifting, hanging out in the locker room or traveling, the time we have spent laughing and having fun are the times that I will never forget and am so grateful for. 
KM: My best memories I’ve had playing come from my senior season, beating teams like Fairfield and UMass for the first time in my career. Truly though, the best memories come from simple moments: a ground ball or caused turnover I picked up and dish to the offense to do their thing and score, when they run back and hug you afterwards. It’s what being on a team is all about. 
TC:  My best memories of playing lacrosse at Holy Cross are when we made it to the Patriot League tournament last year and all of the team bonding moments that our team does over the course of the year.
LD: My best memories of playing lacrosse at Holy Cross include my entire team running to our goalie and celebrating after an upset win. Specifically, after beating UMass and seeing all of the team’s hard-work and teamwork pay off, the best moment was sharing this feeling with my teammates.
MC: My favorite memories are clinching a spot in the Patriot League Tournament last year and our opening day win over Fairfield this season.
JP: My best memories of Holy Cross lacrosse are playing with all my best friends every day, catching up on the stretching lines, laughing and having fun during practice, purple vs. white drills, the pregame huddles, working together with the defense to make a stop and so much more.
BM: My best memories of playing lacrosse at Holy Cross have been meeting people from all over the country and sharing experiences together through playing lacrosse. From away trips, morning practices and hard fought wins, the teammates I am surrounded by every day truly made my experience better than I ever thought imaginable.

What kind of mark do you hope to have left on the program after your career is over?
KM: I hope that our senior class left the mark on the program that demonstrates the strength of belief. We believed this team had no ceiling of success when we played together and we proved to opponents what Holy Cross lacrosse can do. This season was the most fun, and the winningest, because of our trust in each individual’s hard work and the love and respect we have for our teammates. 
BM: As a member of the most successful team I have been a part of in my years at Holy Cross, our senior class has displayed resilience and that to be great you must overcome adversities you would never imagine facing. I have no doubt that success will only continue to grow for this program. This stemmed from our class setting a positive, supportive and inclusive atmosphere within the team, and I believe that from our class setting this standard, it will be our greatest mark left on the program.
TC:  I hope to have provided an environment to the grades below me that was welcoming and comforting. I hope to leave the impression that no matter what is going on, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy life with your best friends while you have the opportunity.
JP: I hope to have left a positive mark on the program. I think being positive and having fun is a key to success, and why we have been so successful this year. 
MC: As a senior, I hope that I left the program with a mindset that we are capable of competing at the highest level and that having a bond with each and every teammate is extremely valuable. 
LD: To set your standards high, find joy in every team event (practice, game, film, lift), have intention in every rep and be creative.
MPS: The mark that I hope to leave on the Holy Cross women's lacrosse program after my career is over is being able to have fun and work hard simultaneously. Our team has been the most successful when we are able to let loose, be ourselves, and have fun while doing what we love. I hope that after my career is over, people remember this and take it with them for seasons to come. 

What life lessons have you learned during your time on the team?
TC: Some life lessons I've learned during my time on the team are to have fun playing the sport that we love, because at the end of the day it's just a game and the more important thing is the connections and friendships you make during your time here.
LD: I have learned that it is important to lead by example, to lead by encouraging others and to be confident in yourself but always remain humble.
MPS: I have learned countless life lessons during my time on the team. Some of the most important things are time management, hard work, and showing up every day ready to work and be the best version of myself that I can be. In addition, I think that being positive and making the best out of every situation is something that I have learned while being both an injured and active player on the team. 
JP: I’ve learned to never give up and that you are capable of more than you think. Amanda always preached this to us throughout my four years, and it was always so inspiring seeing myself or a teammate accomplish something they didn’t know they were capable of. I am so grateful to Amanda, Joelle, Gina, Ollie and Lindsay for their constant attention and care for us, and helping us to perform our best and grow every day. 
BM: The most important life lesson I have learned throughout my years on the team is that so many things are unpredictable, and success comes from how you respond to these variables. Staying mentally strong and having a support system around you are crucial factors in overcoming adversity and striving towards team and personal goals.
MC: Sometimes, when there are days that you may feel tired and unmotivated, but you get up and work hard because you care about the team and its goals. This a life skill that will translate to your career and future. Any adversity you face will make you more appreciative for the opportunities you have in the future. 
KM: I’ve learned what it takes to show up for the person next to you. To be there for your teammate every single day, good or bad, stressed or happy, energized or tired. It’s easy in the high moments but needed most importantly in the imperfect moments. I’ll take that lesson into all aspects of my life: friendships, relationships, colleagues, family members. 

What is the best thing about playing lacrosse at Holy Cross?
MC: It truly feels like you are playing with your best friends who would do anything for you on and off the field, and the atmosphere is positive and close knit.
JP: The best thing about playing lacrosse here has been the relationships I’ve made. From when I was a freshman to now, I’ve had the most incredible teammates – all four years – and have made lifelong friends!
BM: The best thing about playing lacrosse at Holy Cross is being in an extremely competitive league where you are surrounded by people that are continuously pushing you to be the best version of yourself and challenging you. The support system within this team is truly incomparable, and is how we define our program.
MPS: The best thing about playing lacrosse at Holy Cross is the people I have met and the best friends I have made. It is amazing the relationships you are able to form from simply being part of a team like this one and everyone I have met has made such a positive impact on my life. The laughs and memories made with my teammates and best friends are ones that I will never forget. 
KM: The best thing about playing lacrosse at Holy Cross is the culture. The alumni, the families and the coaches just truly want the best for you and are rooting for you. The team is close knit, on and off the field, which makes every day fun. 
TC: The best thing about playing lacrosse at Holy Cross is the never-ending support from the coaching staff and having over 30 best friends. It's such a welcoming environment.
LD: The best thing about playing lacrosse at Holy Cross is the support from other athletic teams. Members of other teams are always congratulating you after a win or good performance.

What will you miss the most after your career is over?
LD: I will miss competing alongside my teammates with all of the fight we have, whether that’s in practice or in games.
BM: I will miss this team, our coaching staff and our athletic training staff the most. Oftentimes it is easy to overlook the fact that I get to spend every day surrounded by such an amazing group of people, and next year I will definitely feel the absence of everyone’s presence and support.  
MC: Not being able to spend every day playing lacrosse with my closest friends, and the feeling that comes from being your most competitive self on the field.
JP: I will miss working together as a team. There is nothing better than winning with your team, as a team. We are all so close, and that makes winning that much more exciting. Knowing that everyone had a role the win has been so rewarding and exciting. I love this team so much and will always be cheering them on.
MPS: I will miss my teammates the most after my career is over. We have had so much fun together and I will miss being able to mess around at any hour of the day. Although we will still see each other, I will miss spending the majority of my day hanging out with everyone. In addition, I will also miss playing lacrosse and the competitive aspect that comes with being a collegiate athlete. Although I will still be active after my lacrosse career is over, I don't think anything will compare the competitiveness that comes with playing in a college lacrosse game or tiger tails in practice.
KM: I will miss most seeing my teammates Monday afternoon, after a Saturday win, a fun night, a day off, and getting back at it Monday ready for the next game week. It’s crazy when you see the same people every day, and on the days you don’t, you miss them. I’ll never take that for granted. I’ll miss laughing in the locker room, cheering and competing at practice, long travel trips where you all start to go delusional and team dinners at Ollie’s house with my teammates the most.
TC: I will miss being with my best friends every day, the long bus rides together, and going out onto Father K field every day and playing lacrosse.

'SADER SHORTS

• Holy Cross stands 4-0 in the Patriot League for the first time since 2007, while its overall record of 9-2 is its best since the 1980 team opened the season 11-0.
• Navy stands 15-2 all-time against the Crusaders, including five straight victories.
• Holy Cross has 100 assists as a team so far this year, just six shy of the program single-season record (106 assists in 1999).

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