Passucci’s impact on Lions will felt long after her playing days
When Camille Passucci takes the field tonight at The College of New Jersey don’t be surprised if the talented senior takes a moment or two to just absorb the atmosphere.
As a four-year starter Passucci has been in the rare air among hockey players.
She was an integral part of the Lions national championship team in 2011, she has achieved All-America status, earned three straight All-NJAC honors and throughout her four years Passucci has been the heart and soul of the Lions.
Now, in her senior season she is making the most of every moment that field hockey is still a part of her life.
“Being a senior is a different experience than any other year,’’ said Passucci, a midfielder on the unbeaten and third ranked Lions. “Knowing that after this season I will never represent TCNJ field hockey makes me cherish every moment I have in the uniform.’’
She has done the uniform proud, too.
During last year’s championship run Passucci led the Lions in scoring and this season she has two goals and three assists heading to tonight’s game. Ironically, it was against Ursinus that she scored her first career goal.
The points make the scorebook, but so much of what Passucci does cannot be measured by numbers. She has been the glue that gets the Lions through the tough times and she has been the leader that keeps it all in perspective.
“Winning the national championship has changed me as a player and a person,’’ Passucci declared. “I now know that any team is capable of achieving anything. It is important to know that any team can be a threat at any time. We must always respect our opponents and realize we must work hard to get what we want.’’
As an All-NJAC player in her freshman season Passucci has been impressed with the work ethic and the talent on the newcomers to the Lions.
“They have really stepped up and showed they deserve to be on the field,’’ said Passucci. “It’s great to see them work hard every day.’’
They have a great role model in Passucci.
“Every time any of us seniors step on the field we play knowing that our time is limited,’’ Passucci said. “We have to make the most of every single second out there.’’
Passucci’s time on the field might be limited, however, her impact on the program and her teammates will linger long after her playing days. Tigers Head to Columbia After suffering their first defeat of the season to now No. 1 Syracuse it’s back to the Ivy League for No. 3 Princeton.
“Obviously we are disappointed,’’ said Princeton coach Kristen Holmes-Winn. “That is why we play these games. They were able to execute, but it’ll keep us grounded and show us we still have a lot to work on.’’
This weekend the Tigers (7-1, 2-0 Ivy) will work on another Ivy crown as they face Columbia (6-2, 2-0 Ivy).
“We know how important these games are,’’ said HolmesWinn. “We know Columbia is going to fight to the end.’’
The Tigers, who are led by Kathleen Sharkey with a nationhigh 4.88 points per game. Katie Reinprecht has 16 points on four goal and eight assists.
Despite the 2-0 loss to Syracuse the Tigers will continue to be fiercely competitive as they continue with the Ivy schedule and probably the most challenging non-conference schedule in the country.
“There is no complacency among this group,’’ said HolmesWinn. “They are ready to do the work.’’
There could be another meeting with Syracuse in the future and the Tigers will remember the first time. Broncs Looking to Bounce Back When the season started
it was known Rider had a few holes to fill and that it might take a few games for things to get settled.
Instead the Broncs (6-3) reel off six straight wins and things are the same as always on Lawrence Road.
But, a couple bumps in the road to Lock Haven and Lafayette have brought some things back into focus.
“We knew this was going to be somewhat of a rebuilding year,’’ said Rider coach Lori Hussong. “We are very pleased with how we have competed in our non-conference schedule.’’
There are two more non-conference games, Lehigh and Columbia, and then it is all-Northeast Conference all the time.
The Broncs, who has started 15 different players, have been led by Sandra Penas with six goals and 14 points. Jackie Adams leads in assists with three.
Hussong hopes the losses are the wake-up call Rider needs to get things back on track.
“Our team needs to play with spirit and wild intensity in order for us to be competitive,’’ said Hussong. “It was a slight setback, but our team will hopefully bounce back and play to their potential.’’
With six regular season conference championships, five conference tournament titles and five NCAA appearances there is plenty of evidence to how the Broncs respond to a challenge. Rutgers Responds, Again It seems like every time the Scarlet Knights get thumped by a top-10 team they dust themselves off and take it out on someone else. This time it was Cornell. After top-ranked Syracuse blanked Rutgers (5-5, 0-2 Big East) it rebounded with a 4-3 win over Cornell in overtime.
The Scarlet Knights were trailing before rallying and getting the game winner from Christy Lonsky. It was Lonsky’s second game winning goal.
Villanova (4-5, 0-2 Big East) and Bucknell (5-5) invade Piscataway this weekend with the Scarlet Knights looking to get that first conference win.