The seniors being honored before the start of the final game of the regular season against Nicholls State.
Annie Goodman/The Lion's Roar 

The senior soccer players at the university have a new season ahead of them as they transition out of college. 

The hardest part for the girls about graduating is that they will be moving in different directions than the family that they have made over the last four years.

“I’ve learned that your family doesn’t have to be your mom and your dad and your grandparents,” said Casey Peacock a forward and midfielder. “It can be the people you surround yourself with.”

Peacock started playing soccer 18 years ago and has played for the university for five years. During her time here, she has learned a lesson that is applicable in any stage of life. 

“Soccer has taught me that no matter what life throws at you, as long as you keep going and persevere, you’re going to make it through it,” said Peacock. 

Peacock will move on from being an athlete and will be looking to start law school once she graduates. 

Goalkeeper Hope Sabadash has grown up playing soccer since she was 4 years old. After being in Hammond, Sabadash is going to miss certain aspects of the tight-knit community she has found here.

“My girls, the community as a whole, just how friendly everybody is down here and everybody knows who you are,” said Sabadash. “I’ve made a lot of friends here.”

Sabadash plans on continuing her soccer career and taking lessons that she has learned at the university with her as she hopes to be accepted into the National Women’s Soccer League. 

“Different opportunities present themselves so you just have to be patient in waiting for them,” said Sabadash. “January is the end of NWSL draft, which I will be entering, and I will see where that takes me,” said Sabadash. “I’m not done playing yet.” 

Though Sabadash is the only senior that wishes to continue playing soccer, some of her teammates will continue into sports related fields.  

Casey Jeanfreau, goalkeeper, wants to go into physical therapy and plans on being the best she can be based on something she learned while playing soccer here. 

“I learned that even though you’re not the number one pick, you can still push yourself and work hard and be the best possible person you can be,” said Jeanfreau. “Everyone will notice the hard work you put in.”

 Jeanfreau started playing 17 years ago and has been a reserve goalkeeper at the university. It will be hard to not see her teammates every day.

“The ending of the last game was another step closer to the ending of the era of all of us, all of this,” said Jeanfreau. 

Amber Lasher, midfielder, also hopes to continue into another aspect of sports, sports management, and plans to move back to her first home in California. Being apart from her family while in school, Lasher has gained a new family in her teammates that she will leave soon. 

“Every once in a while you will fall, but that is why the team is there, family is there, to help you get back up,” said Lasher. “I have learned the importance of teamwork, family and sacrifice.”

The relationships made between the Lady Lions prove to be the hardest thing to leave behind. 

“You’re not going to see them every day when you are done and graduate as a senior, so it’s going to be a lot harder,” said defender Lauren Lorentz. 

Lorentz will take the loyalty she has learned from growing with her teammates as she moves on to graduate school for psychology. 

“Playing with teammates, you get really close to them over time, and leaving them after four years is really hard,” said Lorentz. “You also work harder and keep pushing yourself and you have people there with you, so it’s not as hard to work because you don’t work for yourself.”

Being a team player is something that midfielder Marisa Rodrigues has grown to understand and become. 

“I have learned how to manage my time and be a team player,” said Rodrigues. “It has made me competitive in everything I do.”

Rodrigues has been playing the sport since she was 8 years old, but will be coming to the close of her career as she works toward her masters in finance. 

“I will miss my teammates and playing soccer in such a competitive atmosphere,” said Rodrigues.

Teammates are people who challenge each other in a competitive atmosphere and encourage each other to be better. 

“Throughout my time on the soccer team here at Southeastern, I have learned the importance of being planted, of being surrounded by people who encourage and challenge me,” said defender Katie Noonan. “I will miss the competitive and challenging atmosphere. This team found a way to push each other, challenge each other and compete with each other day in and day out while still maintaining close and genuine relationships.” 

Noonan plans on staying in Hammond and continuing where she already has roots.  

“I do not feel like I am done here,” said Noonan. “I plan on going into ministry and am honestly so excited for this next season of my life. I have been surrounded by such an incredible church family here in Hammond and want to continue growing under their invaluable leadership and encouragement.”

Not only has she grown in her church, but she also feels honored to have been a part of a team that has pushed her to grow. 

“A preacher I once had the pleasure of listening to said, ‘sharpening comes from the clash not the caress,’” said Noonan. “We clashed often and thoroughly on this team, but I know it pushed me to grow as a player, as a teammate and as a person. We are not meant to do life alone, and I have thoroughly enjoyed doing life with this team. I have forged bonds and friendships that I am sure will last a lifetime.”

Casey Jeanfreau
Courtesy of Sports Info

Amber Lasher
Courtesy of Sports Info

Lauren Lorentz
Courtesy of Sports Info

Katie Noonan
Courtesy of Sports Info

Casey Peacock
Courtesy of Sports Info

Marisa Rodrigues
Courtesy of Sports Info

Hope Sabadash
Courtesy of Sports Info