In the last game of her collegiate career, Penn senior Lindsey Cassidy went out with a flourish. The senior captain scored four goals and added four assists in a 17-11 win over Brown on Saturday. Her scoring output gave her a career tally of 99 points, good enough to place her 11th on Penn's all-time point list.
Cassidy's 25 goals and 41 points placed her first among her teammates for the second year in a row. This is a stunning accomplishment for a player who came to Penn as a defender and had no shots on goal in her first season on the team.
"Lindsey was an amazing addition to this team and we will miss her," Penn coach Karin Brower said. "Her being 11th on the all-time points list is simply a testament to the hard work she has put in through the years."
Cassidy's play helped the Quakers (9-7, 4-3 Ivy) to their first winning season since 1994 and a fourth-place finish in the league.
"I'm glad we finally had a winning record," Brower said. "It has been a building process ever since I have been here and it is nice to finally come through."
"That said, there were a bunch of games that we could have won and I wish we could play over again. But this team played hard and I'm happy with that. No one can say that we lost a game for lack of heart."
While the Quakers will lose a leader in Cassidy, who was also the lone senior on the team, many are ready to take a leadership position next season, in what should be a watershed year for the Quakers.
Next year will see the return of sophomore star Emily Cochran, who was second on the team in goals this season despite playing in only half of the games.
Brower has also recruited what could be the strongest recruiting class in Penn history, giving the Quakers the depth that they lacked this year.
However, the most important thing that the Quakers will gain next year is experience. This year's team was dominated by young underclassmen, but next year these players will not only be more mature, but also more comfortable in playing with each other.
"I am very excited for the future," Brower said. "We look forward to Emily's return and we have the biggest and strongest recruiting class we've had since I've been here. Next year should be a big one."
While the Red and Blue did not make the NCAA Tournament, nor did they beat Ivy powerhouses Princeton, Yale or Dartmouth, they did take a big step forward. The Quakers have secured a spot in the middle of the Ivy League, not quite as good as the three power teams, but much better than the rest.
The Quakers look to next season as the time to make the leap into the national elite.
While Cassidy will never get to experience this transcendence, she was an integral part of the transition toward it.
"They are a great group of girls," Cassidy said. "To be able to know them and associate with them has been a pleasure. Being a captain and part of this team has been one of my most rewarding experiences at Penn."
