Caruso '19 Named Skyline Conference Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year
New York, N.Y.| St. Joseph's College graduate Samantha Caruso of the women's soccer and women's lacrosse team was named the Skyline Conference 2018-19 Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year as announced by commissioner Linda Bruno on Thursday. On the men's side, Sam Ney of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's soccer team was selected.
"Congratulations to Sam and Samantha on their illustrious careers as student-athletes in the Skyline Conference," said Bruno. "These two individuals are fine examples of what the student-athlete experience in our conference can lead to following graduation from our member institutions."
Caruso collected first-team all-conference distinction in women's soccer and as a defender in women's lacrosse. On the soccer field, she started all 17 games for the Golden Eagles and recorded five points on two goals and an assist from the defensive end. The Lake Grove, NY native guided an SJC backline that held opponents to a 2.287 goals-against average and eight shutouts. In the spring, she collected 26 ground balls, 13 caused turnovers, one goal and three assists on the year
The Child Study major, who minored in speech, will be starting soon as a preschool teacher and a high school coach while hoping to wrap up a master's degree in the near future.
"My experience as a student-athlete helped shape the person I am today. It has taught me life lessons, gave me the opportunity to meet life-long friends/families, it made me able to meet coaches/staff who I look up to and have learned so much from -- as well as making so many unforgettable memories," said Caruso. "All of these life lessons and skills that I have gained from competing in intercollegiate athletics, I will forever cherish and take with me in my life with whatever I do -- especially in my teaching and coaching career."
"Samantha is one of the most talented individuals both on and off of the field that has come through the women's lacrosse program at St. Joseph's," said Golden Eagles women's lacrosse head coach Kristen Znaniecki. "Her dedication to her schoolwork and to the team is one that everyone looks up to as players and even as coaches. Being an education major is extremely difficult, but Samantha was able to balance her homework and lesson planning while being our top defender on the field. Samantha is a phenomenal role model to her teammates and will continue being that same role model to her future students."
