Pascarella leaving it all on the pitch in final TCNJ season
Emma Pascarella has all her priorities in order: It’s family, soccer, teammates, The College of New Jersey, and more soccer.
Growing up in a soccer family, she loved the game so much that despite being a very talented athlete, it’s the only sport she wanted to play.
And Pascarella plays it at a very high level.
The reigning New Jersey Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Pascarella has a goal and five assists for the 14th-ranked Lions.
The five assists tell a bit about Pascarella’s awesome personality.
“I care a lot about my teammates, and that’s on and off the field,’’ said the fifthyear player. “Especially off the field we are not just soccer players; we are a family.’’
Through the first seven games, it has been like the golden days of TCNJ soccer as it has an impressive 5-1-1 record and is back among the ranked in Division III.
“I love TCNJ so much and I want this program to be as successful as it can be, and that doesn’t just come down to me,’’ declared Pascarella. “It’s every single person on this team.’’
The Lions have 20 New Jersey Athletic Conference regular-season titles, but last year had a streak of 31 straight NCAA Tournament appearances end.
This season, TCNJ has a new coach, Dan Blank, and a new resolve. Pascarella’s and the other captains’ leadership has been a key.
“We all sat down together and we established what was most important to us, and that was to work together on and off the field,’’ said Pascarella. “Dan Blank has been awesome, and from preseason we all have one goal, and that’s to focus on each game that comes our way.’’
The next one is Wednesday when they travel to Kean for a 7:30 p.m. start. This will be the Lions’ first conference game as the Saturday Ramapo game was postponed due to the weather.
Blank is happy Pascarella will be in the lineup Wednesday.
“She’s a fantastic leader whose love for her teammates is unmistakable,’’ said the TCNJ coach. “As a player, her ability to hold the ball is as good as I’ve ever seen. Because she’s so dangerous in front of
goal, Emma gets a lot of attention from opponents who double-team her every chance they get, but she’s evolved into a tremendous set-up player. She’s had a hand in an awful lot of our goals.’’
The Lions are playing with so much passion, determination and heart, and it shows every time out.
“Everyone is happy and excited every time we are on the field,’’ said Pascarella. “There’s so much energy. The attitude of the team is incredible.”
After a Colonial Valley Conference Player of the Year campaign at Allentown High — she held the program’s all-time scoring record until last week — Pascarella began her college journey at Rutgers, and then she transferred to TCNJ her junior season.
Besides a welcoming led by her brother Luke, now a TCNJ senior soccer player, there was Joe Russo, the former TCNJ women’s soccer coach who was more than willing to have Pascarella’s talents in the blue and gold.
“My brother (Luke) is on the men’s team, and that was a factor why I came here and the team felt like family,’’ said Pascarella, who is a journalism major and working on her master’s.
It was an easy decision to take that fifth year and come back to the team, and at the same it brought the realization that this would be her final season on the pitch.
“I wasn’t ready to give up the game and I want to leave college with something amazing, and I have already with all of my teammates,’’ Pascarella stated. “A big part it is that my brother and I are
finishing out our soccer careers together, and that’s pretty cool.’’
It was pretty cool having a dad, Carmine, who played soccer at Seton Hall and a mom, Heather, who has been there for them all cheering them on.
“My parents have been great role models,’’ said Pascarella. “Coach wise I would have to thank Joe Russo. He is the one that allowed me to come to this program and find my home, and he is an amazing coach. I really enjoy our new coach. I enjoy his presence and he’s been awesome.’’
While the field is definitely Pascarella’s happy place, it’s tough to realize this will be her final season of soccer.
“This is my last year of soccer and. that is tough to deal with,’’ stated Pascarella. “This is the most important year of soccer I’ll ever play. I played soccer my entire life and this is a special year and it is for everyone.’’
Pascarella has been a special player since the days of playing for Kim Maurer at Allentown, to winning the conference Player of the Year in 2022, and to being an integral part of the revival at the College of New Jersey. She always puts those around her first.
When asked about the honor of being named the Player of the Year, Pascarella’s response speaks volumes to the person she is.
“I have to credit my teammates,’’ said Pascarella. “I couldn’t have done it without every single player on the field and off the field. It was a blessing and such an honor, but I give all the credit to my teammates.’’