thePULSEAndrea Marcoccio Is Leading the Lady Greyhounds to Glory
We Talk to the Powerhouse Captain and her Proud Coach
October 2005 – It’s 9 o’clock in the morning, and Assumption College Senior
Captain and soccer forward Andrea Marcoccio is relaxing and mentally preparing
for her team’s most important game of the young season later in the day.
The Lady Greyhounds will face off against UMass Lowell in a game that
Marcoccio and her coach Neil Stafford refer to as “…a game
that will define their team as an Division II soccer powerhouse.”
“All of our hard work will go down the drain if we don’t take care
of business today,” Marcoccio bluntly states.
After having the best season ever in Greyhounds soccer last year, it’s
no surprise that the Assumption College Women’s Soccer program is continuing
its fine play into the 2005 season. The Greyhounds sailed through September,
remaining unbeaten and untied in their 6 games this season, including
4 conference games. After 3 straight road wins over nationally ranked
competition (No. 24 New Haven, No. 2 Franklin Pierce, and American International),
Assumption has found itself sitting No. 4 in the National Soccer Coaches
Association of America NCAA Division II National Poll, and No.1 in New
England. Marcoccio has consistently played a major part in securing this
ranking.
“Thirteenth was the highest ranking in school history, then we went
to ninth and now fourth,”
said Stafford. “We smashed 2 school records in 2 weeks. That’s pretty
exciting.”
Marcoccio, whose two goals (including the game winner with 36 seconds
left) helped Assumption beat undefeated Franklin Pierce College 3-2 on
September14, leads the Northeast-10 Conference with 3
game-winning goals and was named the ECAC New England Player of the Week
(September 20). But according to Stafford, it is her leadership qualities
that have brought the team to where they are today.
“Andrea had a really great experience as a Junior Captain last year
with Ali Reyell. Her maturity and ability to lead has set the tone on
and off the field,” said Stafford. “Her fitness and technical,
tactical, and mental strength make her the complete player.” Marcoccio
is fourth in school history in career goals (31), assists (24) and points
(86). She is on track to being just the second 100-point producer in Hounds’
history (Stephanie Martin, 1996-99, had 120 points). But Marcoccio says
stats like these are never on her mind. “Only when they are brought
up in an article am I reminded of them. What we are doing is more about
the team and getting the win,” she said. “It’s not about the
individual, every player makes a difference, no matter what her role is.”
Marcoccio doesn’t even consider her role of Captain to be any different
than the next player’s job. “My teammates give me a lot more at times.
I’m here to give them encouragement and motivation, but I learn from them
as much as they learn from a Captain.”
It is of this selfless, team-first philosophy (you know, Patriots and
Red Sox style) that Stafford and\ Marcoccio are most proud. “They
have totally bought into an environment they truly believe in. I think
man or woman, this is about athletes who believe in something. It is unique
to see a team expect so much of each other.” Marcoccio also thinks
of what the team is doing as
genderless. “This isn’t about proving someone wrong or trying to
break a stereotype, we just win for us.”
And there is more winning to be done. The captain said that the team is
only four conference games into a long season, and the team is trying
to stay focused and not get ahead of itself. Stafford tells his players
to live in the moment, take one game at a time, and to keep everything
in perspective.
Which brings Marcoccio to her mental preparation before the big game.
She’s not thinking about tomorrow or her post-graduation plans. “I’m
too young to know right now. All I’m thinking about is playing this afternoon
and enjoying this moment.”
