Feb. 10, 2009

Garden City, NY -

In order to fully get to know the student-athletes that captain the 2009 Adelphi Women's Lacrosse squad, the office of Media Relations at Adelphi University sat down with Head Coach, Joe Spallina's quintuple and asked a series of hard-hitting questions. The goal was to get all the real facts about these five student-athletes: juniors Jackie Bogensberger and Holly Burke, and seniors Nicole Lein, Rachel Ray and Emily Simpson.

Jackie Bogensberger - Junior - Valley Stream, NY

Born: September 28, 1988 in Rockville Centre, NY
What’s on TV:  The Sopranos, Lost, Six Feet Under, ESPN, any sporting event
What’s in my ipod:  Everything from Dashboard Confessional to Rascal Flatts to Killswitch Engaged, the mood makes it!
What I drive:  A black 2006 Pontiac G6 GTP.
Favorite Flicks:  Big Daddy, Knocked Up, Wedding Crashers, Superbad.  I enjoy anything that makes me laugh/
What I’m reading: Look Me In The Eye by John Elder Robinson, Women’s Health Magazine, and Runner’s World Magazine.  And anything I have to read for class, of course!
Superstitions:  Before every game we listen to the “Inches” speech acted by Al Pacino from the movie Any Given Sunday, I close my eyes and try to live the words.  I’m also math major and a huge numbers person, so every game I’m sure to have 13 twists in my braid and 3 and 6 ties of my hair tie, my favorite numbers.  I also wear a sweat band in every game and superstitiously put ridiculous amounts of eye black on my face before each game!
Worst habit:  My stress; anxiety and over-thinking things are my worst flaws.
Love to trade places for a day with: An Olympic or professional athlete- they have the best jobs.

First job:  Carvel Creamery in Lynbrook –free ice cream!

For dinner:  I love a nice rice stir-fry with chicken and shrimp.
Talent I’d most like to have:  I’ve love to be able to write, sing and perform music effortlessly.
Favorite Athlete to Watch: Rajon Rondo of the Celtics
Favorite City to Visit: Long Island’s backyard, New York City. 
Favorite team as a kid: The New York Islanders
Favorite Physical Attribute about Myself:  My tattoo.
And least… My weak stomach, I get so car sick!
My hero: My little sister, Johanna.
My bucket list:  Traveling as much as possible, being a mother and to be a coach.
My motto:  It’s something that I was told in high school by my favorite teacher and it will stick with me forever: “You cannot appreciate the good times without the bad.  In the end, it’s all good.”
Three People to Dinner:  I’d love to see and have a nice dinner with my grandfather, my cousin Michelle and my Aunt Theresa.  I miss them dearly and I wish I could tell them the impact they’ve had on my life face to face.  Rest in Peace.
Favorite Superpower:  I want to be superman, flying and having superhuman strength.
Quote About Coach Spallina:   All I ever needed was someone to believe in me.  Spallina has done just that and has brought me from a walk-on to a starter to a captain in such a short amount of time.   He’s taught me the value of passion and persistence and I owe my own personal success to his patience and expertise.  He always knows how to motivate me.
Quote From Spallina: “ Jackie is one of the most intense players that I have every coached. She breaths pure intensity 24-7. Her pasion for the game is unparalleled.”

Holly Burke - Junior - Churchville, MD

Born:  August 18, 1988 in Baltimore, MD
What’s on TV:  Grey’s Anatomy, Sex in the City
What’s on my ipod:  I run to the same mix since freshman year.
What I drive: Forest Green 2000 Mustang
Favorite Flicks:  Overboard, Sex in the City the Movie, the Notebook
What I’m reading:  Twilight Series, Harry Potter--- love them!
Superstitions:  Listening to the speech before a game.
Worst habit:  Cursing.
Love to trade places with… Sarah Jessica Parker
First job:  Lifeguard.
For dinner:  Breakfast foods.
Talent I’d most like to have:  I wish I was funny, and able to spell!
Favorite Athlete to Watch:  Lance Armstrong
Favorite City to Visit:  NYC
Favorite team as a kid:  Watching the Orioles as a kid.
Favorite Physical Attribute about myself:  My eyes.
And least… my teeth
My hero:  My mom
My bucket list:  To go around the world.
My motto:  Crap happens, deal with it.
Three people to dinner:  I would want to go to dinner with Oprah, Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey.
Favorite Superpower:  Move things with my  mind!
Quote about Coach Spallina:  He pushes me to the limit and I have become a better player because of him, Thanks Coach.
Quote from Spallina: “Holly is one of the unsung heros on the team. She someone who doesn’t show up on the score sheet all of the time, but is someone we cannot win without. Her work between the lines is the difference between us winning and loosing.”

Nicole Lein - Senior - Baldwin, NY

Born:  July 27, 1987 in Baldwin, NY
What’s on TV:  Entourage, Gossip Girl, Grey’s Anatomy, Brothers and Sisters
What’s on my ipod:  I like everything; rap, pop, hip hop, I’m easy.
What I drive:  Ford Mustang, Musty.
Favorite Flicks: The Notebook, Sex in the City the Movie.
What I’m reading:  Lacrosse for Dummies!
Superstitions:  Listening to the Inches speech before games.
Worst habit:  Procrastinating and biting my nails!
Love to trade places with… Angelina Jolie
First job:  Gino’s Pizzeria
For dinner:  Penne Ala Vodka
Talent I’d most like to have:  To not be tone deaf! My friends wish this too!
Favorite Athlete to Watch:  Eli Manning
Favorite City to Visit:  New York City
Favorite team as a kid:  New York Jets
Favorite Physical Attribute about myself:  My rosy checks and olive skin.
And least… my height
My hero:  My mom, she’s my rock.
My bucket list:  To get a tattoo.
My motto:  Go big or go home, FBGR!
Three people to dinner:  My grandparents and Derek Jeter.
Favorite Superpower:  To read minds!
Quote about Coach Spallina: He always knows how to get the best out of every player, especially me!  I definitely worked my hardest on this team!
Quote from Spallina: “Nikki has made tremendous progress over the last year. She went from possible starter, to one of the corner stones of our defense. She is someone who has flourished in our defensive system.”

Rachel Ray - Senior - Rocky Point, NY

Born: December 28, 1987 in Rocky Point, NY
What’s on TV: Entourage, ESPN, The City
What’s in my ipod: Rock, Lil’ Wayne, Billy Joel, Country
What I drive: Black Mustang, “The Black Pearl”
Favorite Flicks: Any Given Sunday, A Bronx Tale, My Cousin Vinny, Shawshank Redemption, Green Street Hooligans.
What I’m Reading: Mind Gym, The 5 People You Meet in Heaven, Newsday
Superstitions: Sleep with my stick in my bed before home games. As a team we listen to the “Inches” speech, by Al Pacino, in the locker room.
Worst Habit: Procrastinating, sleeping in.
Love to Trade places for a day with: God, I want to make miracles
First Job: Lacrosse Unlimited
For Dinner: Grilled chicken, steak or sushi.
Talent I’d most like to Have: Be a Rock Star
Favorite Athlete to Watch: Dwayne Wade, David Wright and Brady Quinn
Favorite City to Visit: Prague
Favorite Team as a Kid: Always NY Mets and Rangers
Favorite Physical Attribute about Myself: Eyes
And Least…Short Legs
My Hero: My Grandma
My Bucket List: Live outside the country
My Motto: Life is Good. FBGR
Three people to take to Dinner: Rachel Ray, Adam Sandler and Brandon Jacobs
Favorite Superpower: Be Invisible
Quote About Coach Spallina: “Coach Spallina was an integral part of my development as in high school and having him as my college coach has been everything I expected.  Just an amazing experience.  He’s like an older brother-something I might get mad at on occasion, but still know that he’s looking out for me in the end.  He brings out the best in all of us.”
Quote From Spallina: “I have had the ability to coach rachel since she was in the ninth grade, she is one of the most explosive dynamic players to ever play for me. She has battled hard to ge t back on the field this year and has truely benifited from our wide open offensive scheme. The day I got the job at Adelphi, Rachel called me and said it’s time to win some national championships.”

Emily Simpson - Senior - Kings Park, NY

Born:  July 9, 1987 in Kings Park, NY
What’s on TV:  OTH, Grey’s Anatomy
What’s on my ipod:  Anything from country to rock.
What I drive:  Honda Civic
Favorite Flicks:  Sex in the City, The Notebook, Dumb and Dumber.
What I’m reading:  US Lacrosse Magazine
Superstitions:  Since being at Adelphi, I always listen to the “inches” speech before every game.  Before each season I pick a new hairstyle to wear for every game.
Worst habit: talking too much.
Love to trade places for a day with… Barack Obama
First job: TJ MAXX
For dinner:  Salad Pizza
Talent I’d most like to have:  I’d like to play the guitar.
Favorite Athlete to Watch:  Brett Favre.
Favorite City to Visit:  Baltimore, MD
Favorite team as a kid:  New York Giants
Favorite Physical Attribute about myself:  My eyes.
And least… Feet, I don’t like feet.
My hero:  My parents.
My bucket list: Riding a horse along a beach.
My motto: Train Today - Dominate Tomorrow; FBGR
Three people to dinner:  Jim Carey, Julia Roberts and Michael Strahan.
Favorite Superpower:  To fly.
Quote about Coach Spallina:  Most motivating coach I’ve ever had.  I hope when I become a physical education teacher and coach, I am half of what he is.
Quote From Spallina: “Emily is a truely a selfless player. She is someone who went from being an offensive starter, to now being a big part of our defense. She plays with a hyper-active tenasity and serves as a tremendous role model as the team.”