In an afternoon game on March 15, the Manhattan College women’s lacrosse team came out strong against Delaware State to win their second straight game. The Jaspers scored the first three goals of the game and two of those were from senior co-captain Carly Eskenazi.

These two goals were Eskenazi’s first of the season, along with her three assists she had by the end of the game, which led the team with five points that day. Manhattan won 18-2 over the Delaware Hornets, the team’s second consecutive win.

Through six games, the women’s lacrosse team (0-1 MAAC, 2-7) is already halfway to matching its total win total from last season. Eskenazi’s play has been a big reason why.

“It was good to see her get on the board and the team followed,” head coach Elizabeth Weber said after the game on March 15. “She was the spark that we needed.”

Eskenazi was named co-captain her junior year and is returning to her captaincy this year, along with senior Kelsey Rehain. The mid-fielder has been an important player for the team. Her junior year, she was tied for a team-high 25 points. She also led the team with 22 goals and was a member of the MAAC All-Academic Team.

Playing for about 10 years, Eskenazi has had some good memories.

“We’ve had some close games here,” Eskenazi said. “Conference games, Marist and Siena are always good games to win.”

One personal goal for Eskenazi is to beat Iona, as the Jaspers haven’t in her four years. She will get that opportunity on April 23 when the team travels to New Rochelle, N.Y., in its only meeting with Iona in the regular season.

As far as her other goal, Eskenazi said it’s time to get the women’s lacrosse team back into the MAAC tournament.

Only four of the nine teams in the MAAC make the MAAC tournament, and the team hasn’t made it since 2009.

“[Our goal is to] definitely make it to MAACs since we haven’t made it in a while, and hopefully win,” she said. “I think we have a lot of potential this season.”

Being a senior, she said it is her job to lead her team. She says that she tries to be someone to look up to.

“There are no different responsibilities,” she said on being captain. “Everyone is there to motivate each other. Everyone tries to be there for people.”

With a new coaching staff this season, things look to be improving. The players have more motivation and they are playing like a team who wants to win, Eskenazi said. She is setting some goals for the team this season.

“We are getting better and improving each game and day of practice,” she said. “Each non-MAAC game will help us prepare.”

Eskenazi and Rehain have been essential in helping the team and the new coaching staff this season. Weber is in her first season at Manhattan College, in addition to new assistant coach Carly DeVito.

“This coach cares more than any coach we’ve had, so it’s a really good change for our program,” Eskenazi said.

Both captains have a distinctive style of leadership that they bring to the team. They were able to make the transition easier for the coaching staff and the players getting used to each other.

“Carly is a vocal leader,” Weber said. “She’s a returning captain and we were looking for her leadership. She filled the role.”