In a Saturday afternoon game on March 15, the Manhattan College women’s lacrosse team came out strong against Delaware State to win their second straight game. The Jaspers scored the first three goals of the game. Two of those were from senior co-captain Carly Eskenazi, which set the tone for the Jaspers.
These two goals were Eskenazi’s first of the season, along with her three assists she had by the end of the game. She led the team with five points on the day. Manhattan won with a score of 18-2 over the Hornets.
“It was good to see her get on the board,” Elizabeth Weber, Manhattan head coach, said, “and the team followed. She was the spark that we needed.”
Eskenazi was named co-captain her junior year and is returning to her captaincy this year, along with senior Kelsey Rehain. The mid-fielder has been an important player for the team. She was tied her junior year with a team-high 25 points. She led the team with 22 goals and was a member of the MAAC All-Academic Team.
Playing for about 10 years, Eskenazi has had some good memories.
“We’ve had some close games here,” she said about her time at Manhattan. “Conference games, Marist and Siena are always good games to win.”
One personal goal of hers is to beat Iona, as the Jaspers haven’t in her four years.
“There are no different responsibilities,” she said on being captain. “Everyone is there to motivate each other. Everyone tries to be there for people.” Being a senior, she says that she tries to be someone to look up to, because she has been through it before.
With a new coaching staff this season, things look to be improving. The players have more motivation and they are playing like a team who wants to win, according to Eskenazi. She is setting some goals for the team this season.
“We are getting better and improving each game and day of practice,” she said. “Each non-MAAC game will help us prepare.”
“Definitely make it to MAACs since we haven’t made it in a while,”she said on what the team’s main goal is for the season, “and hopefully win. I think we have a lot of potential this season.”
Eskenazi and Rehain have been essential in helping the team and the new coaching staff this season. Coach Weber is in her first season at Manhattan, in addition to new assistant coach Carly DeVito.
“This coach cares more than any coach we’ve had,” Eskenazi said. “So it’s a really good change for our program.”
According to Weber, both captains have a distinctive style of leadership that they bring to the team. They were able to make the transition easier for the coaching staff and the players getting used to each other and the new system overall.
“Carly is a vocal leader,” Weber said. “She’s a returning captain and we were looking for her leadership. She filled the role.”
Jaclyn Marr 