The Next Level
Matt Williams
Cathryn Folkestad still remembers her freshman year on the women's soccer team at Lesley University. The Lynx were in a bad spot; they weren't particularly competitive and even struggled to get 11 players on the field for some games.
Four years later, Folkestad, now a senior captain, has helped engineer a dramatic turnaround. The Lynx (10-4-1) are perfect in New England Collegiate Conference play and are looking to return to the conference championship for the second straight season.
"It was definitely tough and a little disheartening (as a freshman)," said Folkestad, an Ipswich native. "But it feels great knowing that we've turned it around and are starting to get on the map in Division 3."
Lesley's men's coach, Paul Vasconcelos, took over the team when Folkestad was a sophomore, and the Lynx quickly made the biggest turnaround in Division 3 history by going from 2-15-2 to 14-4-1. Last year, Folkestad was a first-team all-conference selection as the Lynx won a school record 16 games.
It's a year they're hoping to build on after dropping the league final to Elms on penalty kicks.
"We have a lot of talented freshman, but it's funny because they almost expect to win," said Folkestad. "Some of the teams we're beating 7-0 are teams we lost to as freshmen, but the newer girls look at it like its nothing."
Hamilton's Hailee Lowe, an all-conference pick at goalkeeper last year and also an all-conference basketball player, has also been a big part of Cambridge school's success. The 6-foot goalie has a 0.85 goals-against-average to go with four shutouts.
"She's having a great season," Folkestad said of her one-time Cape Ann League rival. "We actually live together now and we're having a lot of fun with it."
A back, Folkestad has four goals this fall, including a game-winner, but is more focused on the defensive side of the field.
"I play center back, which coach tells me has to be the backbone of the team," she explained. "I can see the whole field, so a lot of what I'm doing is directing the team, letting people know where to be and being vocal."
Folkestad, 21, is due to graduate in May and majors in holistic psychology. She has a health minor and is considering getting into physical therapy as a graduate student, but for now her studies remain focused on a unique branch of psychology.
"It's a whole body study rather than just focusing on the mind or the brain," Folkestad said. "It combines mind and body with health and wellness, sort of keeping everything balanced.
"I'm probably more interested in the health aspect, but Lesley doesn't have a lot of science so you make the best of it."
Making the best of it is exactly what Folkestad has done on the pitch as well. She's proud to have been a part of building a program from the doldrums to a regional Division 3 contender. The Lynx would relish the chance to see just how far they've come with a conference title and NCAA tournament berth at the end of the season.
"I'm looking forward to seeing how we do even after I graduate," said Folkestad. "We've had some tough losses but we've had a tougher schedule this year. So far it's been a good season — a lot of fun."
¢¢¢
Former Salem News sports intern — and Boston Celtics afficionado ¬— Greg Payne was named Commonwealth Coast Conference Runner of the Week after he finished fourth at the Western New England College Invitational.
An Endicott College sophomore and native of North Attleboro, Payne finished the 8K race in 27:31 and was just three seconds behind the field's top Division 3 finisher.
¢¢¢
Also earning Commonwealth Coast Conference player of the week honors at Endicott was men's soccer midfielder Kevin Ivester. The former Masconomet star scored a pair of goals in leading the Gulls (7-7, 6-4 CCC) to two conference victories.
Ivester has four goals and nine points on the season.
¢¢¢
Sabrina Salmela has had no shortage of aces early in her college tennis career at Simmons. The Beverly product has won the GNAC Rookie of the Week honor in each of the five weeks of the fall season. The freshman phenom has an overall record of 11-7 in singles competition but is a perfect 8-0 in conference action.
¢¢¢
Skylar Sabbag, a former all-star at Swampscott, could be a part of history at Central Michigan. The Chippewas can win their first even Division 1 Mid American Conference title with just one more league victory. Sabbag has appeared in 10 games for the 13-3 Chippewas, who've won 11 in a row — all by shutout.
In fact, they have not been scored upon in 1,027:26. Sabbag, a 5-foot-4, defender is no doubt quite proud of that particular streak.
¢¢¢
Wellesley junior Kate Cushing of Danvers checks in second in the NEWMAC field hockey charts in assists with nine. The Pingree product has five goals for a total of 19 points on the season for the Blue, who are 9-6 on the season and 4-1 in conference play.
Also playing well for Simmons is Marblehead graduate Jordan Borash, now a collegiate senior. She is a spotless 5-0 in GNAC action and carried a 7-5 overall singles record.
¢¢¢
Swampscott's Adam Sussman has been a critical reserve for the Wheaton men's soccer team. Despite just five starts, Sussman has played in all 17 games and ranks third on the team in scoring with two goals and three assists for a squad that's a more than healthy 13-3-1.
¢¢¢
Beverly's Armando Cuko drilled three field goals to help the UMass football team drop then No. 4 New Hampshire last week. Cuko's boots were 31, 36 and 41 yards and the senior is now a career best 14-of-17 on field goals this year including a 51-yarder against Delaware.
St. John's Prep product Chris Zardas had a solid day blocking at fullback for the Minutemen, who are now 4-2 and ranked 14th nationally in FCS (formerly Division I-AA). UMass needs Zardas, Cuko and defensive tackle Kyle Harrington of Salem to be on their toes again this weekend when they face defending national champ and No. 1 ranked Richmond Spiders.
¢¢¢
Dan McQueen, a golf product out of Masconomet, is contributing for the Fairfield Stags. A freshman, McQueen has played in three tournaments so far and has turned in sub-80 round in all three appearances.
¢¢¢
Do you know a local athlete excelling at "The Next Level?" Contact Matt Williams at MWilliams@salemnews.com or 978-338-2669.
