Oct. 25, 2005
~By Pete Iorizzo Times Union (From the October 23, 2005 print edition)
LOUDONVILLE -- Alicia Lackey's high-school teammates called her "Peanut." After all, she stands only about 5 feet 2 inches tall with cleats on. But fortunately for the Siena women's soccer team, her contributions the last few weeks belie her size.
Despite starting only three games this season, Lackey leads Siena (10-7-0, 5-2-0) in goals (nine) and points (20) heading into today's regular-season finale at Fairfield. The Niskayuna native has scored more goals in the final month of her Siena career than she did in her first three years combined.
"It's my senior year, my last chance to do something," Lackey said. "I came into this season knowing it's my last chance, and it's time to get it done."
Lackey received her chance Oct. 9 when she made only her second start in a late-season conference game against Canisius. She scored the first three of four Siena goals in a 4-2 victory. Each of her goals put Siena ahead, first 1-0, then 2-1, then 3-2.
The game highlighted the best week in Lackey's Siena career. She totaled six goals in four games and earned Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors.
"It was just surreal," Lackey said. "It brought me back to high school. I remember scoring, just the feeling of knowing that I made a big impact for the team."
As usual, Lackey played the game in front of an array of friends and family, including her parents, brother and godfather. Her parents, Rick and Cindy, plan to travel to Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Thursday for the MAAC Tournament.
"I always knew she had it in her," Rick Lackey said. "We're very proud of her. Alicia doesn't have the one-on-one ability to handle to the ball by somebody because of her size, but she sees the field, she's quick and she's a winner. She just has that drive."
Lackey thrives because of her savvy and ability to finish. Each of her goals against Canisius underscored a different trait. She positioned herself properly and tapped a cross into an empty net on the first goal. She finessed a ball inside the left post for the second. And on the third she slammed the ball behind the goalkeeper after receiving a drop pass.
"What she's done the last few weeks, really, she's done it her whole career," Siena coach Steve Karbowski said. "She's always been a hard worker and a great team player."
Neither comes as a surprise, given Lackey played soccer against boys until age 14. She once earned the Most Valuable Player Award at a tournament despite being the only female player.
Her play at Niskayuna High School was marked by similar toughness. She once played a state tournament game with blood-soaked gauze stuck in both of her nostrils. Her junior year, Lackey scored the go-ahead goal in the second half of a sectional game against rival Bethlehem by beating four defenders, shuffling past the goalkeeper and then trickling the ball into the net.
"She's not very big," said Bryce Colby, the Niskayuna girls' soccer coach, "but she's a ball of energy, fast and fearless. She packed so much punch for what she had. She was fearless."
Lackey, a psychology major, plans to pursue graduate school next year. She expects soccer, one way or another, will remain part of her life.
"I'm sure this weekend I'll think of things like this being the last time I'm playing with this team, this being one of our last road trips," Lackey said. "I'll miss that. But I know I'll always play soccer."
Pete Iorizzo can be reached at 454-5425 or by e-mail at piorizzo@timesunion.com.
