SJC Long Island alumna Samantha Caruso of the women’s soccer and lacrosse teams was named the Skyline Conference 2018-19 Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Caruso, who graduated in May with a B.A. in Child Study, collected first-team all-conference honors in soccer and lacrosse. As a senior, she started each of the soccer team’s 17 games, as well as every one of the lacrosse team’s 14 games. On the soccer pitch, she earned the Golden Eagles five points on two goals and an assist, while playing defense. She guided a backline that helped the Golden Eagles record eight shutouts last fall. In lacrosse, she collected 26 ground balls, caused 13 turnovers, scored one goal and recorded three assists.
“My experience as a student-athlete helped shape the person I am today,” Caruso said. “It taught me life lessons, gave me the opportunity to meet lifelong friends and family, and it made me able to meet coaches and staff who I look up to and have learned so much from.
“All of these lessons and skills I gained from competing in intercollegiate athletics, I will forever cherish and take with me in my life with whatever I do — especially in my teaching and coaching career,” she added.
The Lake Grove, New York, native recently started work as a preschool teacher and high school coach. She hopes to wrap up a master’s degree in the near future.
