Cifarelli makes instant impact

Of the 11 freshmen on Ohio State’s women’s lacrosse team, none has made a bigger impact than Jackie Cifarelli. The speedy and shifty attack from Rockville Centre continued to dazzle in a homecoming of sorts last Thursday with three goals and an assist in a 15-9 victory at Hofstra.

“It’s great to come back and play where I grew up,” said Cifarelli, who closed March as the second-leading freshman scorer in the nation behind Duke’s Kerrin Maurer with 24 goals and 20 assists, helping the Lady Buckeyes to an 8-3 start. “We’ve got some great senior leaders and we’re off to a good start,” she added.

Ohio State coach Alexis Venechanos, who began monitoring Cifarelli’s progress about three years ago, isn’t surprised by her instant contributions. “I’ve watched Jackie since she was a high school sophomore, and she’s always had a knack for making plays and making others around her better,” Venechanos said. “She’s a big part of my first recruiting class and found a home here.”

Cifarelli recorded a hat trick and two assists in her collegiate debut Feb. 11 and hasn’t slowed down while playing alongside senior Alayna Markwordt, a Second Team All-American and OSU’s all-time leading scorer who netted 52 goals in 2011. Markwordt again ranks among the offensive leaders in the country with 27 goals and 32 assists.

“Alayna’s a fantastic finisher and feeder, and Jackie has similar qualities,” Venechanos said. “Speed is Jackie’s biggest asset, and she’s also got quick hands and a quick release.”

Returning to Nassau County to play in front of family and friends was “something special,” Cifarelli said. Adding to the ambience was Pride freshman goaltender Kelsey Gregerson, another 2011 South Side High School graduate, made her first collegiate start and looked solid while making 12 saves. “Kelsey’s a great goalie,” Cifarelli said. “I was a little nervous going against her because we were teammates for so long.”

Lady Cyclones lacrosse coach Meghan Healey and members of the varsity and JV teams were among those cheering both locals from the stands. “I’m so proud of them,” Healey said during halftime. “It’s great to see them playing at the next level.”

Few freshmen jump into the fire of Division I athletics and thrive, but Cifarelli said she no longer feels like a newcomer. “It was hard at the beginning, but everyone on the team has been helpful and we have strong chemistry on and off the field,” she said.