The person behind the jersey: Women’s Soccer seniors
By Andrew Nowel, Editor-In-Chief
Last Saturday, the Canisius women’s soccer team honored seven players who have given their all to the program for four or more years: the seniors. With leadership, dedication and grit, the oldest members of the current team took the field not just to play a game they’ve all played for years, but to continue a playoff race.
Each senior has impacted the program in a different way. Jessica Whitaker has been the offensive component of the class for her four years at Canisius. Scoring four goals and adding six assists last season with a two–goal game against the Merrimack Warriors highlighting her junior year, the forward from Darlington, England took on a leadership role as the captain this season. Whitaker, like many of her teammates, also has succeeded off the field and in the classroom, being named to back–to–back conference All–Academic teams.
Elizabeth Cavanaugh comes from an athletic background as her family was involved in collegiate athletics. She translated that into her own playing career, making a name for herself on the wing for Ryan Louis’ team. Being in the program for all four years has helped Cavanaugh learn the Louis system well as she’s become a threat in the attacking third. A psychology major, the San Diego, Calif. native gives it her all on the field.
Rochester, N.Y. has always been known for producing soccer talent, and Maggie Cregan showcases her city every time she steps onto the field. Coming alive last year to spark the Griffs into the postseason and help them make a deep run, the all–time leading scorer of Brighton High School has carried her success into Division I collegiate soccer. Her grit is unmatched, and she is a leader without having to wear the captain’s band. Majoring in sports management, Cregan will continue to be around a sport she’s played since she was a little girl in the Flower City.
Mary Molloy hasn’t been at Canisius for all four years, but the DePaul transfer has played nearly every minute of all three seasons she has been. The local product returned home to be the stopper on the back line that Louis was looking for. Even though her name doesn’t show up on the stat sheet, Molloy will make sure nothing gets by her as she works with her teammates to post a zero. The West Seneca, N.Y. native brings her strategic mindset from her classroom studies onto the field when defending on the pitch.
The final three seniors haven’t seen the playing field much while with the Griffs, but each still makes an impact on and off the field. Nicki Silverman and Jazmin Herrera are the biggest supporters of their teammates, something every team needs. When they both take the field, they make the most of it. Most notably, Herrera, a Pembroke Pines, Fla. native, scored her first collegiate goal last year in the Senior Day game against the Saint Peter’s Peacocks. Silverman has also found success as the Ladera Ranch, Calif. native made her name during her freshman season with a key goal in a win over Little Three Rival St. Bonaventure.
Lastly, graduate transfer Melissa Groseibl returned to Canisius after playing at Towson for two seasons with her sister. Groseibl began her career as a Griff and returned to Buffalo, N.Y. this season for graduate school, something that Louis acknowledged was high praise to him and his staff.
The seniors have given many years to the program, and each player continues to until the final minute of their careers tick off. After falling 2–0 to the Marist Red Foxes on Saturday, the Griffs sit in a precarious position at 2–5 in Metro Conference action, but with five games left to play, there’s still time to make a push for a tournament berth. As the first frost sets in Buffalo, the seven seniors look to get hot and help the Blue and Gold keep playing well into November.
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