KUTZTOWN, Pa. (March 23, 2011) – Junior Leeann Pica (Levittown, PA/Neshaminy) is a serious scholar. She was named a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) scholar athlete, made the Dean's List, and was named to the Athletic Director's Association (ADA) All-Academic Team.
However, when she's not in the classroom, Pica lives and plays lacrosse by the best piece of advice she's ever received, “Don't give up. Just never give up.”
Pica has successfully made an impact on the Kutztown University women's lacrosse team. She finished third on the team as a freshman with 25 goals, followed by another 25 last year, placing her fourth on the team. This season, Pica has eight goals for the 4-2 Golden Bears.
Pica and the Golden Bears will be set and ready to go this weekend against Mercyhurst College on Friday at 4:00 p.m. and eighth-ranked Gannon University on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Both games will be played at Keystone Field.
Kristen Cornelis: What made you start playing lacrosse?
Leeann Pica (Levittown, PA/Neshaminy): “It was a new program at my high school. I started playing in the 10th grade because I didn't want to run track anymore and I wanted to try a new spring sport.”
K.C.: What pumps you up before a big game?
L.P.: “I guess music. I listen to everything but for pre-game, I listen to music like rage against the music and flogging molly.”
K.C.: Does your team have any rituals that you do before any a game?
L.P.: “That's actually something we were working on this year. It's still a new program and our coach wants us to come up with some kind of routine after we score or come onto the field, but we're still working on it.”
K.C.: How do you feel going into this weekend playing Gannon University and Mercyhurst College?
L.P.: “It's a little bit nerve racking but all you can do is try your best. This past year, playing these teams hasn't been that big of a deal but now that we're getting better and winning more games, we want it a lot more.”
K.C.: What do you want to accomplish on and off the field this season?
L.P.: “In general, I want us to play more as a team. Personally, my accomplishments have nothing to do with statistics for me. I just don't want to be disappointed with the way I play. I focus more on picked up ground balls and turnovers than stats as a whole.”
K.C.: What do you look for in incoming freshman that play on the field with you?
L.P.: “Well they definitely need to have the right attitude and they need to be willing to learn new things and play with our team specifically.”
K.C.: What is the best thing about playing for Kutztown University?
L.P.: “We have a really tight team and we have a lot of fun together. We don't have any drama, which is very different from a lot of high schools.”
K.C.: Why did you choose Kutztown University?
L.P.: “The art program. That was my first priority just because I know that I love to play lacrosse but when I graduate I want to follow through with my communication design career.”
K.C.: How do you balance your communication design major with your lacrosse schedule? Is it difficult?
L.P.: “It is a lot of work but its all time management. I have to make sure that i do it all before so that it's spaced out. I just try to stay on top of it and it helps that my teachers are pretty lenient.”
K.C.: What do you want to do after you graduate from Kutztown University?
L.P.: “I want to be a designer in advertising design. I don't really care where I am, just as long as it's good.”
K.C.: If you could work for absolutely anyone, who would it be?
L.P.: “I think it'd be cool to work for a company like Burton or Nike. They have really cool advertisements and graphic designs.”
--KU--
