Senior Mountain Hawks reflect on their careers
10/14/2011 4:14:00 PM | Women's Soccer
BETLHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh women's soccer team's six seniors have created a legacy in the Brown & White, playing a key role in the Mountain Hawks' recent success which culminated in the 2010 Patriot League Championship and a 2-1 start to league play this year. The group has excelled off the field as well, earning numerous academic accolades. The Class of 2012 reigns from five different states from as far away as California to as close as New Jersey. With Senior Night set for Saturday, Lehighsports.com caught up with the six seniors to get some thoughts on their careers in the Brown & White.
Jana Basubas - Midfielder - Canyon Lake, Calif. - Sociology/Social Psychology
One of two California natives in this senior class, Basubas made an impact from the start, starting all 17 games as a freshman, all 18 as a sophomore and all 20 as a junior. The defensive midfielder broke out last season when she posted four goals and an assist while spearheading an impressive defense that allowed only 21 goals in 20 games, including none in a three-game stretch bridging the end of the regular season through the Patriot League Tournament. That earned her First Team All-Patriot League laurels. Earlier this season, she was recognized as a Lowe's Senior CLASS Award candidate for her superb work on and off the field, as she owns a strong GPA while also staying active in the community.
Lehighsports.com: What is your favorite Lehigh Soccer memory up until this point?
JB: Winning the Patriot League last year. There have been a number of good memories in my time here, but I think earning the trophy tops them all. It took a long time, a lot of ups and downs and disappointments to get to that point, so being able to finally reach our goal of being Patriot League Champions and playing in the NCAA Tournament was really special. And to be able to share that moment with each other, a team that felt like family is something I'll never forget.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
JB: Winning the Patriot League last year. There have been a number of good memories in my time here, but I think earning the trophy tops them all. It took a long time, a lot of ups and downs and disappointments to get to that point, so being able to finally reach our goal of being Patriot League Champions and playing in the NCAA Tournament was really special. And to be able to share that moment with each other, a team that felt like family is something I'll never forget.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
JB: We have been through a lot together. We are all different, but have learned a lot from each other throughout the years. I feel lucky to have a special bond with these girls. We are all proud of what we've done for the program as a group. I have made some friends for life.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Night. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
Describe the feeling going into Senior Night. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
JB: I feel good about Senior Day. My experience here has been incredible and I have accomplished everything I wanted to. I know I'm going to miss it a lot, but I feel proud of the role I have played for this program. Looking back, it's cool to see how much I have grown and I am thankful for everyone at Lehigh who has helped me in that process.
What will you miss most about Lehigh Soccer?
JB: My friends. One thing I learned in my time here is the importance of relationships. I think the people at Lehigh made my entire experience truly meaningful. We all will be going our separate ways and continue to be successful in whatever we do besides soccer, which will be exciting. But I'll miss the moments before practice, on the bus, in the locker room, on the field, in the weight room and just hanging out with each other. We laugh a lot; I'm going to miss those moments.
What are your postgraduate plans?
What are your postgraduate plans?
JB: Nothing set in stone yet. I want to do some traveling then find a job, so I can start applying what I've learned in school. Maybe after a few years, go back to school and get an MBA. We'll see.
Megan Cain - Midfielder - Norwich, Vt. - Integrated Business & Engineering
Cain has proved to be a solid contributor to the Mountain Hawks all over the field, serving as a defender during last season's championship season while sliding back to midfield and forward, where she played her first two years. She has a goal and assist so far in her career, scoring the only goal in a 1-1 tie against Columbia in 2009 while her first-career assist came a year later in a 6-0 win against NJIT. Overall, Cain has played in 52 career games, starting 10.
Lehighsports.com: What is your favorite Lehigh Soccer memory up until this point?
MC: Playing Virginia in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season. Playing in the Patriot League Tournament is obviously exciting and rewarding, but playing in the NCAA Tournament brings a whole new level of talent, competition, recognition and reward. I will never forget what it was like to play on Klöckner Stadium and hold one of the best teams in the country scoreless for the majority of the game.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
MC: Over the past four years, we have seen the program grow and develop from an existent member of the Patriot League to a consistently competitive group of individuals that is capable of winning a championship. We have ultimately gone from rock bottom to the very top together and that transformation has brought us together in itself.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Night. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
MC: I cannot believe how quickly this experience has gone by. It is truly surreal to know that my collegiate career is coming to an end and that I won't be returning next summer for preseason. I have always identified myself as an athlete and primarily a women's soccer player. There's no doubt that once this is all over, I will have a brief identity crisis!
What will you miss most about Lehigh Soccer?
MC: I don't feel like I am leaving the game, but more than anything, I feel like I'm leaving the camaraderie and friendship that I have made in my time here. There will always be other teams to play on, but there will never be another program in my life that has the same dynamic and team structure. That is what I will miss the most.
What are your postgraduate plans?
MC: I am currently applying for jobs in the finance and consulting industries.
Hannah Cochran - Defender - Fair Oaks, Calif. - Design Arts
Also from California is Cochran, who has stepped in to help stabilize a strong Mountain Hawks' defense. She played in 19 games last season, starting 16 times in the back for a unit which allowed only three goals over the final four games and 15 over the last 17. That included one stretch bridging the end of the regular season and Patriot League Tournament where it impressed when it mattered most, shutting out Lafayette, Bucknell and Army. That led to Lehigh's first-ever Patriot League Tournament Title and berth into the NCAA Tournament.
Lehighsports.com: What is your favorite Lehigh Soccer memory up until this point?
HC: Winning the Patriot League Championship for the first time in Lehigh history, of course.
HC: Winning the Patriot League Championship for the first time in Lehigh history, of course.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
HC: I have so much respect for all the seniors and consider them some of my best friends.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Night. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
HC: It's bittersweet. I'm sad that soccer is almost over because it's been such a big part of my life, but I also couldn't be more excited to start working, traveling and just being more independent.
What will you miss most about Lehigh Soccer?
HC: I'll miss being part of a team, playing the game I've enjoyed since I was four, and the wonderful girls I've met along the way.
What are your postgraduate plans?
HC: Hopefully, I'll have a job as a junior designer for an Architecture or Interior Design firm, preferably somewhere warm.
Leah Kulp - Defender - Titusville, N.J. - Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Kulp has been a stabilizing force in the Lehigh backfield. After playing one game her freshman year, she started all 18 games as a sophomore and all 20 as a junior. She has impressed as a senior, making an impact at both ends of the field. She scored a goal in the home opener against Binghamton while netting the game's only score in a 1-0 win over American. Two days later, she went on to assist on the game's only goal vs. Navy. Kulp has been named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week on two occasions in her career while also being recognized with honorable mention laurels this past week. Overall, she stands second on the team in points, recently making the adjustment to a midfield position.
Lehighsports.com: What is your favorite Lehigh Soccer memory up until this point?
LK: My favorite Lehigh soccer memory has to be winning the Patriot League Championship last year. We lost to Army earlier in the season and to come back and beat them on their home field for the championship title was awesome. The 2010 team made Lehigh women's soccer history and I feel very fortunate to have been a part of that.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
LK: My class has been through a lot together and our program has evolved during the four years that we have played together. We hope to leave having made a positive impact on the Lehigh women's soccer program.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Night. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
LK: I'm excited about playing Army on Senior Day because this is going to be a big game for us. I'm going to treat this like any other Patriot League game, a game where we have to focus and play well for 90 minutes. At the same time, I will try to take it all in and remember what it's like to be on the field as a Lehigh women's soccer player.
What will you miss most about Lehigh Soccer?
LK: I will miss the opportunity to compete and grow with people around me. Playing with a team is fun and I will miss going out to practice every day and training for something.
What are your postgraduate plans?
LK: I plan to work for a year after I graduate and apply to graduate school for the next academic year. Although I am working towards a degree in chemistry, I want to explore other fields of study for graduate school. When I'm done playing soccer, I want to train for a triathlon or a marathon.
Ali MacLeod - Midfielder - Groton, Mass. - Chemical Engineering
LK: My favorite Lehigh soccer memory has to be winning the Patriot League Championship last year. We lost to Army earlier in the season and to come back and beat them on their home field for the championship title was awesome. The 2010 team made Lehigh women's soccer history and I feel very fortunate to have been a part of that.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
LK: My class has been through a lot together and our program has evolved during the four years that we have played together. We hope to leave having made a positive impact on the Lehigh women's soccer program.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Night. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
LK: I'm excited about playing Army on Senior Day because this is going to be a big game for us. I'm going to treat this like any other Patriot League game, a game where we have to focus and play well for 90 minutes. At the same time, I will try to take it all in and remember what it's like to be on the field as a Lehigh women's soccer player.
What will you miss most about Lehigh Soccer?
LK: I will miss the opportunity to compete and grow with people around me. Playing with a team is fun and I will miss going out to practice every day and training for something.
What are your postgraduate plans?
LK: I plan to work for a year after I graduate and apply to graduate school for the next academic year. Although I am working towards a degree in chemistry, I want to explore other fields of study for graduate school. When I'm done playing soccer, I want to train for a triathlon or a marathon.
Ali MacLeod - Midfielder - Groton, Mass. - Chemical Engineering
A workhorse in the middle, MacLeod has seen significant collegiate action since arriving in Bethlehem. She scored two goals right away as a freshman, against Davidson and Lafayette, while adding one as a sophomore and a career-high three in Lehigh's Patriot League Championship campaign in 2010. That included a career-high two-goal performance in a 6-0 win over NJIT. A senior leader, MacLeod has played in 10 games so far this season, starting five while recording an assist.
Lehighsports.com: What is your favorite Lehigh Soccer memory up until this point? Why?
AM: Watching the UVA coach throw a clipboard in frustration when we were still tied with them in the NCAA First Round last year. Giving one of the best teams in the country a run for their money was extremely gratifying.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
AM: We've all been friends since freshman year, and we all truly care about the success of the team, which has kept us close.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Night. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
Describe the feeling going into Senior Night. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
AM: I feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to play on this team for four years. I've learned so much through every experience I've had as a student-athlete.
What will you miss most about Lehigh Soccer?
AM: Having the opportunity to play a game I love, being competitive and working hard with a group of people working towards the same goal every day.
What are your postgraduate plans?
AM: I have a job with Air Products and Chemicals as a chemical engineer.
Genna Pepe - Defender/Midfield - Staten Island, N.Y. - Psychology
One of the Mountain Hawks' fastest and most durable players, Pepe has started all 33 games over the past two seasons while playing a multitude of positions. Pepe primarily played defense during Lehigh's championship campaign, but has shifted to midfield at times, where she's been dangerous on the attack. A Second Team All-Patriot League honoree last year, Pepe was a key component of the defense which allowed only three goals in its last four games, and had one shutout streak of 340:18 before #8 Virginia scored in the second half of the NCAA First Round contest. Pepe also dished out five assists, good for second on the team and third in the Patriot League while recording seven points on the year. In addition, she was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week in two of the last three weeks of the regular season. Pepe owns a pair of goals so far in 2011, at Quinnipiac and against Lafayette.
Lehighsports.com: What is your favorite Lehigh Soccer memory up until this point?
GP: I would of course have to say winning the Patriot League Tournament last year. But more than winning was knowing that our team worked as hard as we could and dedicated ourselves to each other so much. Being part of something so great and then watching us progressively become better and better and hold that trophy for all our work was amazing. Other than that, just the memories of all the girls I have gotten to play with over the past four years are incredible.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
GP: I am so happy that I've had the opportunity to spend four years playing with these girls. We have such a close dynamic from going through so much together on and off the field; I will miss them so much when we're done playing and go our separate ways in May.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Night. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
GP: It is unbelievably sad to think about finishing my Lehigh Soccer career. It will be nice to have a little time off at first, but I know I'm going to miss having soccer and having a team around me like crazy. I haven't had a time where I wasn't playing soccer since I was four, so I don't know how I'm going to adjust. It's hard for me to really believe that I will be done as a player here in just a few weeks.
What will you miss most about Lehigh Soccer?
GP: I will miss the team atmosphere and having something to go out and work for every day. It can be tiring at times, but being part of this program is so rewarding.
What are your postgraduate plans?
GP: I will be staying at Lehigh for a fifth year to get my education masters.
GP: I would of course have to say winning the Patriot League Tournament last year. But more than winning was knowing that our team worked as hard as we could and dedicated ourselves to each other so much. Being part of something so great and then watching us progressively become better and better and hold that trophy for all our work was amazing. Other than that, just the memories of all the girls I have gotten to play with over the past four years are incredible.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
GP: I am so happy that I've had the opportunity to spend four years playing with these girls. We have such a close dynamic from going through so much together on and off the field; I will miss them so much when we're done playing and go our separate ways in May.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Night. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
GP: It is unbelievably sad to think about finishing my Lehigh Soccer career. It will be nice to have a little time off at first, but I know I'm going to miss having soccer and having a team around me like crazy. I haven't had a time where I wasn't playing soccer since I was four, so I don't know how I'm going to adjust. It's hard for me to really believe that I will be done as a player here in just a few weeks.
What will you miss most about Lehigh Soccer?
GP: I will miss the team atmosphere and having something to go out and work for every day. It can be tiring at times, but being part of this program is so rewarding.
What are your postgraduate plans?
GP: I will be staying at Lehigh for a fifth year to get my education masters.
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