By Delaney Hayden
The Canisius Women’s Lacrosse team continued their win streak on the Demske Beach with another big win this past Sunday against Youngstown State.
The Griffs dominated the Penguins with a final score of 15-3. The win allowed Canisius to finish non-conference play at 5-2 while the Penguins dropped to 2-6.
The game was in honor of Molly Seifritz, and in support of “Team Molly”. Molly played lacrosse at Buffalo State and was a shining light on the team.
Sadly, in October, 2011, she was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, Ewing’s sarcoma. After being diagnosed, she fought hard not only for herself, but for all those who were also going through cancer, especially rare forms.
She dedicated her time and energy towards raising awareness and support for research on rare forms of cancer as well. Unfortunately, Molly passed away on March 2 after an 18-month battle with cancer at the age of 25.
Her life and legacy lived on though, as the Buffalo State women’s lacrosse team collectively decided to dedicate their 2013 season to her, remembering her light, leadership, and love ever since.
Canisius women’s lacrosse’s assistant coach Ashley O’Brien, known as OB, had the great blessing of being teammates with Molly. Before the dedication game for Molly this past weekend, O’Brien shared with the team what it was like being teammates with Molly, and how “she always played with joy”.
O’Brien reflected that everything Molly did was with a smile on her face and she was joyful wherever she was. She also shared that the shirts the team wore this past weekend before the game were bright, hot, pink because this was Molly’s favorite color, and even when their coach would ask her if she had anything else to wear she would just smile and wear hot pink again the next practice too.
O’Brien encouraged the team to embody Molly’s spirit and play with the very same joy she exuded when she played too.
Playing in remembrance of Molly and all those battling and who have lost their battle to cancer, the Griffs surrounded one another with the same love, support, and joy that Molly Seifritz blessed her teammates with every day of her life.
Facing freezing temperatures with a high of only 30°, winds over 20 miles per hour, and spurts of blustering snow, both teams battled, but Canisius pulled ahead right away.
Junior attacker Riley Davis started the Griffs off with a goal right away at 13:57. Answered by YSU’s Erin Clark at 12:36, Youngstown’s only goal in the first half of play knotted the game at one.
It was a team effort for the Griffs, as grad student and captain midfielder, Skylar McArthur had two goals, junior midfielder/ attacker, Caroline Netti, had one goal, and junior midfielder, Avery Penoyer, had one goal.
Freshman attacker, Meg Hiltz, sophomore midfielder, Hailey Rooney, and senior attacker, Samantha Detor, each had their first career goal. Grad student and captain attacker, Ivy Santana, led the Griffs in goals, with four total. Lastly for the offense, senior midfielder, Paige Stachura, joined the 100 point club, ending the game with a hat trick as well.
On the defensive end, junior defender, Jill Galanti, picked up the team-high of five ground balls. Canisius’ defensive unit played as a whole once again, only allowing two more goals in addition to the one in the first half to be scored in the second half of play.
Freshman goalie Jody Chu made six saves throughout the first three quarters, and freshman goalie Delaney Hayden made three saves in the final quarter of play.
The Griffs will begin MAAC play when they welcome Manhattan to Buffalo, N.Y. Opening draw is set for 12 p.m. on March 25.