Zazzali's surge helps soccer remain unbeaten

Women's soccer player Allie Zazzali loves to play scrabble. And if you used Z-a-z-z-a-l-i as a scrabble word, you could rack up a cool 100-plus points. It's fitting that such a high-scoring name belongs to this high-scoring forward. She notched nine points on four goals and an assist in the final two games of the season on her way to being named this week's Athlete of the Week.

Zazzali, a sophomore pre-med psychology major from Scotch Plains, NJ is the team's second leading scorer this season with six goals and three assists. A great athlete (she was also a McDonalds All-American nominee as a high school basketball player), Zazzali's offensive abilities are a major reason the team has recently completed its regular season without a loss (15-0-3, 10-0), the first unbeaten regular season in program history. The team is also ranked seventh in the NSCAA/Adidas Division III poll, the highest ranking in Hopkins history.

"I've never been undefeated in anything. In middle school basketball I think we were undefeated for a while," Zazzali said with a laugh. "It's nice to be able to tell my friends back at home because they're like 'Wow, you guys are awesome.' It's good to have that superiority and to have other teams look up to you."

In the third-to-last game of the season, the Jays were riding a five-game winning streak. They needed one more win to clinch a berth in the Centennial Conference tournament, a spot which is afforded to the four highest seeded teams. Zazzali tacked on an assist in this victory, insuring the Jays a spot in the tournament. With Dickinson creeping up in the conference standings, the last two games proved to be very important, since the top seed is awarded the right to host the Conference tournament.

It was here that Zazzali helped propel the high-powered offense, which scored 12 goals in these final two games, to two knockout victories.

In the first game versus the McDaniel Green Terror at Westminster, the Jays jumped out to a quick lead and were leading 4-0 10 minutes into the second half. But showing no mercy, Zazzali began to terrorize the green terror. Zazzali scored her first goal of the game at 66:48 off of a corner kick, giving the Jays a five-goal lead. Eleven minutes later, after another Jay goal, Zazzali headed a ball off of a corner kick into the back of the net, putting Hopkins up 7-0. But she was still not done. Two minutes later, Zazzali tried to shoot through the defense and had the ball deflected back to teammate Ava Sheininger who tacked on Hopkins's eighth goal of the day. By the end of the game, the Jays outshot the Green Terror 29-5 and were one goal shy of the school record for goals in a game.

"There's a lot of games like that," Zazzali said, referring to the blowout victory. "A lot of teams don't know what to do, so they just pack it in and hope for a prayer. It is so explosive and if someone gets hurt or someone has to come out, there's always someone just as good who can come in."

On Saturday the Jays took on Ursinus at Homewood Field. Clinching the top spot in the Conference with the win against McDaniel, this game had major implications. If the Jays won, it would give the team an unbeaten regular season record for the first time in program history.

Zazzali started off the scoring in the 30th minute, firing a shot past Ursinus goalie Lisa Clark. Hopkins would score another goal before halftime and one shortly after halftime to go up 3-0. Later, Zazzali would put the finishing touch on the win, once again showing great energy late in the game. Off of a strike from fellow sophomore Rhiannon Desideri, Zazzali made a dive toward the ball and headed home her second header in as many games, putting the final touch on a 4-0 victory.

"Ali always brings a lot of energy to our team when she`s on the field," Head Coach Leo Weil said. "She`s got great scoring ability, as she`s demonstrated the last couple of games. Her diving header against Ursinus is a great goal at any level."

Zazzali has a hard time explaining the recent scoring outburst, but the increased scoring output certainly highlights the developments she's made as a player.

"I've never really been offensive-minded at all," Zazzali said. "All throughout high school I played sweeper. And now I've been playing a lot of forward and center midfield. It's weird that I've been scoring goals. In high school I played defense. Now, I score goals."

Coming into this season, Zazzali had lofty expectations placed on her shoulders. Last season's team won the Conference tournament and regular season championship, with Zazzali, just a freshman, being a key contributor off the bench. Despite recruiting a great freshman class, the team lost a few senior scorers, and Zazzali has certainly come through in filling the void.

"Ali always gives her best at practice and in games, so that`s what I expect," Coach Weil said. "I knew she would be an important contributor to our success this year."

Zazzali also helps to maintain a positive influence on those around her, including her team and coaches.

"I always tell our freshmen that if they take the time to get to know me and for me to get to know them. It makes the experience better for both of us. Ali is one of the few that has chosen to do that," Weil said. "She`s a great person as well as a great player. As a freshman, she said to me, 'Coach, I`ll never disappoint you in the classroom or on the field.' She hasn`t. I try not to have favorites, but I`m not afraid to tell anyone that Ali is one of mine."

The season is still not over, however. With the Centennial Conference tournament this weekend at Homewood Field, the Jays must win both games to secure a spot in the NCAA tournament. Last year the Jays won the conference tournament at home, but were downed by Virginia Wesleyan in the first round of the tournament. Zazzali knows that the team is determined to continue its winning streak.

"We do want to win this weekend, and we want to make a huge run in the NCAA tournament," Zazzali said. "Hopkins women's soccer has never gotten past the second round."

Hopefully for the Jays, Zazzali will continue to remain hot and will help Hopkins to achieve new heights this weekend at Homewood Field.