The Lady Colonials not only battled their opposition this season but also pressures most teams would have folded under - giving us one of the season’s success stories.
The battle began before the final roster was even known when it was announced the College would transfer its undergraduate program to the campus of sister college C.W. Post, effective September 2005. No undergraduates – no athletics program.
The team signed a few talented freshmen and the season began in the ordinary fashion. Then came another blow; five games into the season head coach Pat McGunnigle resigned.
The College’s softball coach and information coordinator Cassie Arroyo was appointed head coach – with no college level basketball coaching experience. Not many out side the Lady Colonials gave the team a chance, especially when two players decided to leave the team – one being a senior co-captain.
Left behind were eight gutsy players, all believing they could still battle for a playoff spot despite injury limiting the court time of two key members.
They went through January 7-1 in league play, which included a 72-54 victory over first-place St. Thomas Aquinas (13-1), giving them their only NYCAC loss. With four straight losses in NYCAC play they fell to 12-7 and 12-10 overall. Knowing they still had a shot at Conference title play offs (and maybe even a NCAA opportunity) they rose to the challenge. They took out the next 5 games 4-1, ending the season 16-11- 16-8 and in fourth place in NYCAC - one place higher than the pre-season poll and a miracle higher than where logic and reason said they should finish.
