NCAA DivisioN iii WomeN • PreseAsoN PlAyer of the yeAr COLLEGE PREVIEW 2013
MARIA DI FATO CORTLAND C
Megan Leonhard Lauren Pigott Maria Di Fato
ortland sells itself to recruits. Nestled in the hills of central New York, smack between Binghamton and Syracuse, the school is known across the region as a destination for athletes, a testament to its history as a
training ground for physical education teachers. With that focus on athletic education follows first-class facilities. Cortland’s 6,500-seat stadium hosts the New York state high school girls’ lacrosse championships each spring, and in the summer the NFL’s Jets arrive for training camp. But when you hail from nearby West Genesee, with its storied girls’ lacrosse program that has captured six state high school championships since the turn of the century, there are certain expectations. And even though it boasts NCAA Division I-caliber talent and Division I-caliber facilitates, Cortland does its work in Division III. This was the dilemma Maria Di Fato faced four years ago.
When it came time to make her college decision, Di Fato narrowed her choices to UConn and Cortland — whether to serve in Division I or rule in Division III. Di Fato chose well. Cortland has reached the NCAA semifinals the past two seasons, losing by two goals to the eventual champion both times. Last season, Di Fato was an All-American and ranked 15th in Division III with 76 goals. The multi-faceted senior midfielder also led the nation with 62 caused turnovers. Di Fato set a trend. Cortland’s roster features two freshmen from West Genesee, Erica Geremia and Nicole Bello. Geremia, who was named tournament MVP after West Genesee won the New York Class A championship last May, was weighing the same UConn--Cortland decision.
39% 20% 30%
Margaret Souther 7% Katie Bollhorst
4% 80 LACROSSE MAGAZINE February 2013
FAN VOTE >>
Di Fato convinced Geremia to stay close to home with a chance to play and win now. “I credit Maria way more than myself for getting these two talented kids from West Genesee,” Cortland coach Kathy Taylor said. “Geremia even plays like her.” Di Fato wasn’t always so diplomatic. She arrived on campus with an aggressive playing style that frequently led to penalties. “I was kind of spazzy,” Di Fato said. “I didn’t feel accomplished
unless I got the ball back. I think I broke the record at West Genesee for fouls. That’s not a good thing.” A more disciplined Di Fato swiped 2.82 turnovers per game in 2012. She will be expected to do more this season after Lindsay Abbot, who holds most of Cortland’s records, graduated. “With Maria in the game, you feel like anything is possible,” Taylor said.
— M.M.
PreseAsoN PlAyers of the yeAr Year
lACrosse mAgAziNe Player
Team
2013 Maria DiFato 2012 Leigh Mitchell 2011 Ali Jaeger
2010 Kate Robinson 2009 Jen Pritchard 2008 Jen Pritchard 2007 Allie Libby
2006 Lauren Dougher 2005 Molly Flanagan
Cortland TCNJ TCNJ
Catholic
Franklin & Marshall Franklin & Marshall Colby TCNJ Union
2004 Katie Wagenblast TCNJ 2003 Brooke Diamond 2002 Julia Bergofsky 2001 Kristin Osborn
Amherst
Middlebury Amherst
2000 MaryKate Madden Rowan 1999 Heidi Howard 1998 Emily Bracken 1997 Mary DiAdamo
1996 Jennifer Mazzucco TCNJ A Publication of US Lacrosse
Middlebury Middlebury Middlebury
©JIM O’CONNOR (MD); ©AMHERST (BD)
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