The Student News Site of Utica University

The Tangerine

The Student News Site of Utica University

The Tangerine

The Student News Site of Utica University

The Tangerine

UC Spring Athletes Say Goodbye

UC+Spring+Athletes+Say+Goodbye

As the spring semester here on campus dwindles down, sports teams have started to wrap up their seasons.

For most athletes, they will be returning to play more for the Pioneers. For seniors, they will be taking off the Pioneer jersey for the last time.

For those leaving, there will be a lot that they miss from their team once they move on.

Nicole Rice, a senior infielder for the Utica College softball team, said that her teammates and coaches are going to be what she misses the most once she leaves campus.

“They are all part of my family now; over the last 4 years we have gotten so close,” she said.

While Rice said leaving the Pioneers after this season will be a sad moment, she is leaving UC with many good memories with the team over her four years.

“One of my favorite moments was hitting my first collegiate home run,” she said. “My two other favorite moments are when we made playoffs my freshman year and junior year.”

Another athlete who will be saying goodbye to the Pioneer turf after this season is senior lacrosse player Kaitlyn Scarpinella.

Scarpinella had a phenomenal career for the women’s lacrosse team over her four years, tallying up 52 goals and 21 assists for a combined 73 points.

Similar to Rice, Scarpinella said she will also miss her teammates and coach when she moves on from UC lacrosse.

“I am going to miss the family atmosphere from both my teammates and my coaches,” she said. “The team always supports one another.”

Scarpinella has two very fond memories from her time here as a Pioneer, both of which she said she will always cherish and remember.

“Making it to the E8 championship both last season and this season and being a part of coach’s 100th win and gaining my 100th career point during the same game,” Scarpinella said.

From women’s lacrosse to men’s lacrosse, senior Craig DiSanto will also be playing his last season for UC.

Just like Rice and Scarpinella, DiSanto said he will miss his team the most once he leaves.

“I’ll miss being a part of a phenomenal team and family,” he said. “I could always count on my brothers and coaches to pull me up.”

DiSanto’s favorite moments throughout his time as a UC Pioneer consisted mostly of the little moments that personified his career.

“I’ll always remember the time when we beat Hartwick at home in 2016,” he said. “I’ll never forget the ground ball I had that game which led to the game-winning goal.”

DiSanto had one other special moment in his career that he will always remember.

“Beating Keuka this year in front of a big home-field crowd was an incredible feeling,” he said. “The team came together and performed at an extremely high level.”

John Hanlon, DiSanto’s teammate, will also be moving on from the Utica College men’s lacrosse team after this season.

Hanlon is going to miss his time at UC once this season concludes.

“I’m mainly going to miss the friends I’ve made over the years and competing with them,” he said. “I’m also going to miss the excitement gameday brings.”

Hanlon said his favorite memory is “being a part of the record-breaking 2017 squad,” an accomplishment to the entire men’s lacrosse team.

The lacrosse player said he also enjoyed beating top-ranked opponents St. John Fisher and Alfred.

For all of these athletes, their time here is coming to an end after this season but they will continue to play recreationally.

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