WSOC : Cappelli begins fi nal weekend with start streak in tact
On an oppressively hot day four years ago, Lauren Cappelli stepped onto the turf soccer field at Farleigh Dickinson as a Syracuse University freshman, merely hoping to make it through the game.
Cappelli has played 74 games since that debut with the Orange. And she’s started every one.
The Syracuse senior defender will play her final two games this weekend at Connecticut (5-8-4, 3-3-3 Big East) and Providence (5-7-3, 0-6-3 Big East) as the Orange wraps up regular season play. If all goes according to plan, Cappelli will finish with 76 starts, placing her fourth on the all-time list for Syracuse women’s soccer.
‘I remember being on my recruiting trip,’ Cappelli said, ‘walking across the field saying this is where I’m supposed to be. This is where I’m supposed to play. The fact that it’s ending is crazy.’
Cappelli said she’s gotten used to starting every game, but tries not to get too comfortable in her role.
While left defender role may not garner her as much attention as goalkeeper Eliza Bennett-Hattan or leading scorer Megan Bellingham, Cappelli’s value to the team lies in her consistency.
‘Lauren Cappelli has been one of the most consistent players for this team since I’ve been here,’ head coach Phil Wheddon said. ‘She gives an honest, hard effort every time she steps on the field. She’s been tremendous. Not only does she lead by example but she’s also a bit of a vocal leader. I wanted her to be more vocal and be more of a leader, and she’s done so.’
Cappelli has created her own opportunities in the backfield this season with 10 shots, tied for fifth best on the on the team, and five shots on goal. In her previous three seasons with the Orange (5-9-2, 2-6-1 Big East), she’s only tallied a total of 16 shots, including four last year.
Wheddon credits Cappelli for her ability to be critiqued and coached as well as her implementation of these on the field, as evident in her increased scoring opportunities.
At the same time, the Syracuse defense as a whole has struggled. It’s allowed 28 goals this year, already five more than SU let in all of last year.
Still, Cappelli’s aggressiveness has been a bright spot.
‘You know you are always going to get 110 percent from Lauren Cappelli,’ senior forward Crystal Rinaldi said. ‘It’s who she is. She has this competitive nature that no matter what, she wants to win, she has to win, whether it’s on or off the field.’
Syracuse has to win its final two games this weekend at Connecticut and Providence to make the conference tournament. Syracuse is searching for its first tournament berth since Cappelli’s freshman year in 2005.
The Orange defense shouldn’t have to change its gameplan much, facing two similar teams in the Huskies and Friars. Connecticut is fourth in the conference in shots with about 16 per game but 14th in goals scored. Providence averages about 13 shots per game but also does not capitalize on its opportunities well and is 11th in goals scored.
The pair of games against two seemingly beatable teams means a chance for Cappelli to come full circle – going back to the Big East tournament.
Regardless of the results, Cappelli plans on keeping in touch with the team next year. This time next fall, she will be working in New York City at an accounting firm, which conveniently has a recreational soccer team. There’s little doubt she will be starting for that team, too.
‘I’ll definitely be staying in touch with the team,’ Cappelli said. ‘We keep in touch with the seniors from last year, but it will be weird not playing next fall.’
