By Justin Paley

It is not often freshmen athletes make an immediate impact. Most of the time, they are adjusting to playing at a higher level and balancing classes with athletics. But freshman forward Carol Leurini has made a seamless transition, leading the Pride women’s soccer team in scoring with five goals.

“It’s just a different level of soccer but a little more intense,” Leurini said. “The girls have been great and made me feel welcomed on the team.”

Despite earning All-Catholic Central honors each of four years and leading her team to the Catholic Central Championship her senior year at Cardinal Spellman High School in Massachusetts, no Boston colleges recruited Leurini.

Instead, it was St. John’s University and the Pride that went after her. Leurini chose the Pride because she felt at home here. “On my recruiting trip, I felt more comfortable with the girls and felt it was a better fit academically as well,” Leurini said.

It did not take long for Leurini to score her first goal. On Aug. 27 in the Pride’s season opener at the United States Military Academy, Leurini found the back of the net as the Pride won 2-0.

Leurini has scored in wins over Providence, Quinnipiac, and Fairleigh Dickinson. “It’s been nice,” Leurini said about leading the team in scoring. “The goals I’ve gotten I’ve had a lot of help behind me.”

Coach JoAnne Russell is pleased with Leurini’s play. “We were hoping she could give us a little bit of help and she’s done that. It’s always a dream to have a player contribute like that,” Russell said.

The Pride’s upperclassmen have welcomed the 10 new freshman and the team’s chemistry is a big reason for its early success, as the Pride is 9-3-1 overall and 3-1 in the CAA.

“She’s made her way right in,” Russell said about Leurini. “We don’t look at them as freshman, sophomores, juniors, or seniors but as just one soccer team. They are all good friends.”

Leurini agrees with her coach. “They help me out all the time,” she said. “They tell me how to get better, what I should be doing.”