Andrew Anastasio – Sports Writer –
The records for both the all-time and single season goals scored now belong to Owls junior forward Sarah Cebry, after she surpassed both milestones with her performance two weeks ago.
“It was mixed feelings,” Cebry said. “I was really happy and sad, which made it a bittersweet moment.”
Two goals was all Cebry needed entering the Owls Sept. 26 game against UMass-Lowell to surpass Cathy Cardini’s record of 37 career goals. In that game, Cebry put forth exactly that: a two-goal performance which placed her atop the Southern record book with 38 career goals.
“I was trying to achieve that goal, but I never pressured myself on the field,” Cebry said. “It just sort of happened, and all I did was play as hard as I could. I finally got there, and it feels great.”
Cebry also holds the record for single season goals scored with 18 on the year, a total that also leads the Northeast-10 Conference.
“I definitely credit all of my teammates,” Cebry said. “They’re the ones who get the ball to me, and I can’t do it without them. I try to come out every day as hard as I can, and try to be in the right spot and touch the ball when it needs to be touched. I work off of my teammates in order to get those goals.”
Head coach Kelley Frassinelli said she’s been impressed with Cebry’s performance.
“I’ve seen a lot from her this season,” Frassinelli said. “She’s done a great job, and she has progressed fantastically. She’s becoming a great player, but I also believe she needs to start realizing the player that she can be, and put that on the field. She’s a fantastic player, and she needs to realize that.”
Growing up in Burlington, Conn., Cebry attended Lewis Mills High School where she earned All-State and All-League honors. She said she came to Southern in 2010 because of the interest the team expressed in her.
“When I was a junior in high school, coach Frassinelli came to one of my games, and had communicated with my coach at the time,” Cebry said. “I didn’t get to contact her until late in my senior year, but I knew they had a field hockey team here and everything just fell into place.”
During her freshman season in 2010, Cebry accumulated a total of 24 points, with 11 goals and two assists. She followed up in her sophomore season with 20 points off of nine goals and two assists.
Fellow teammate senior Randi Schock said Cebry’s presence on the team is just what Southern needs for the field hockey program to be successful.
“It’s great for our program,” Schock said. “It’s great to see her work on the field, but not just her. She uses everyone else on the field and plays unselfishly. She makes the plays, she makes the assists, and she’s just great to have on the team. She knows where to be in the right time, and she takes care of the ball, She puts the ball right where it needs to be. She moves the goalie, and she’s a well-rounded player and I think she utilizes that to her best ability. Clearly it’s been working for her with all the accomplishments she’s seen thus far.”
