Women’s Lacrosse Reach CACC Postseason
For the second time in three seasons, Chestnut Hill College Women’s Lacrosse will be heading to the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference playoffs. The Griffins concluded the conference regular season with a record of 7–2 and earned a №3 seed. They will host Dominican College in the First Round on April 24 at 7 p.m.
Senior Julia Galantich had an impressive season as the team’s leading scorer with 57. The captain also joined senior Hunter Leckonby and junior Julia Reinert as a member of the 100 goals club after a score against Post University on April 8.
With three potential games ahead, Galantich is only 12 shy from becoming the all-time assist leader. “I think assisting throughout college was a big part of what made me the player that I am,” she said. “Getting those assists meant that I helped my teammates score and that’s an incredible feeling.”
Another player that has helped bring success this year is sophomore Haley Norwillo. After a freshmen campaign with only two goals on four shots, she has increased her production with 11 goals on 31 shots in her first season as a starter . “It was a physical and mental toll at first” she said, “but with the support of my teammates, everything started to click and I began to have confidence in my game.
Chestnut Hill won seven of their last eight remaining conferences games. The players feel like they are hitting their stride at just the right time. “We’ve really shifted from playing as a group of individuals to a cohesive unit,” Norwillo said. “Whether it’s our re-defend, transitioning smoothly from defense to offense or playing a full 60 minutes, there has been improvement.”
Out of the six teams left chasing the CACC title, Georgian Court University is the team to beat according to Galantich. “Our team has had steady competition with them throughout my four year career,” she said. “They beat us once this year, but it’s hard to beat a team twice.”
The 14–13 loss to the Lions on April 13 has been the only blemish on their record this month. There is a chance that both teams see each other in the championship game. “That game proved to my teammates and I that we can compete against the defending champions,” Norwillo said. “If we see them again, we’re going to put up an even bigger fight.”
There are no guarantees that Galantich will put on a Griffin uniform again in a single-elimination playoff. After coming close to a championship in her first three seasons, she wants to complete the task before bidding farewell. “The feeling of not knowing when I’m playing my last game will be stronger than ever” she said, “but if we were to win this time around, it would be the perfect ending to my career.”
