By By Justin Paley
DESIMONE HONORED
Two years ago, junior midfielder Leslie DeSimone was at Old Dominion. She only played in six games and decided to transfer to the Pride. “I wanted to be closer to home,” DeSimone, a native of Roseland, New Jersey said.
She had to sit out last season since she transferred within the conference, but this season has been one of the leaders on the field. On Monday she became the first Pride field hockey player to earn Colonial Athletic Association honors this season when she was named CAA Co-Player of the Week. DeSimone had a goal and two assists in the Pride’s win over James Madison on Friday and scored a goal against VCU. On the season, DeSimone has seven goals including a game-winner, four assists and 18 points on the season. “Leslie’s a powerful player. Invaluable in the backfield and propel our program,” head coach Kathy DeAngelis said.
THIRD SEED
The Pride defeated James Madison on Friday, 3-1, which clinched the third seed in the six-team CAA Tournament.
“We had a sense on the field we knew we were going to win,” DeSimone said.
JMU took an early 1-0 lead with 15:45 left in the first half on a deflection goal from three yards out from Melissa Stefaniak. Less than four minutes later, DeSimone fed Charlia Warner for a six-yard shot as the Pride tied the game. Doni-Melissa Jantzen deflected in DeSimone’s shot off a penalty corner with no time left in the first half to give the Pride a 2-1 lead. With 10:32 left to play, DeSimone scored on a penalty corner off a pass from Pemba Ramdoo to put the game away. While the Dukes out shot the Pride, 15-9, the Pride held the edge in penalty corners, 9-5. Jessica Cowperthwait had six saves for the Pride.
“It was great. We were underdogs…Beat them soundly. Real confidence booster,” Cowperthwait said.