Mooney grads to play for OAC crown

Photo

Makenna Ozenghar

By Greg Gulas

sports@vindy.com

If the Capital University women’s lacrosse team is to defeat the University of Mount Union for the first time and capture the Crusaders’ initial Ohio Athletic Conference championship, two Mahoning Valley players must figure prominently in the outcome.

For the third time in four years, Cardinal Mooney High School graduates Makenna Ozenghar and Brooke Overly expect to play a huge role in the championship game tonight. They are two of five senior Crusaders (11-5, 7-1) who will be facing the Purple Raiders (16-1, 8-0) at Mount Union Stadium.

Game time is 7 p.m. with the winner receiving the league’s automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA’s 42-team, Division III tournament.

“We’re a young program and have yet to beat them,” said Ozenghar, a three-time OAC player of the week honoree this season. “Last Saturday, they beat us 10-9 on a last-minute goal in a game that looked like it was headed to overtime.

“It’s always tough to lose, but a loss is a learning experience and we’ll just have to build off that.”

A midfielder, Ozenghar is second on the team with 69 points, having scored her 100th career goal on April 19 against Ohio Northern in a 16-3 Crusaders win.

She ranks fifth all-time with 169 and 105 goals, is third with 62 assists and 132 ground balls, ranks second with 165 draw controls and fourth overall with 70 caused turnovers.

Overly is a low defender and while her offensive statistics include just one shot attempted this year, her defense has head coach Stacey Florence singing her praises.

“Brooke is the player that we put on our opponents’ better attacker and she has been remarkable in that area for us all season,” said Florence, who has served as Crusaders coach all six varsity seasons. “When Brooke and Makenna first committed, we were a new program that needed bodies.

“We tweaked a few things in their game and they just took off. Their shooting, stick game and growth as leaders has really come along and it is hard for me to believe that their collegiate careers are winding down.”

Ozenghar is a three-year starter and two-year captain while Overly is a two-year starter who relishes her role as a defender.

“I love playing defense, causing turnovers and stopping potential goals,“ Overly said. “Just because you don’t have many statistics doesn’t mean you aren‘t doing your job.

“If we expect to win, then we need to play a solid 60-minutes and avoid any five or 10-minute lapses in play.”

The day will undoubtedly be busy for both women with their afternoon starting at 2 p.m. when they receive their diplomas at commencement ceremonies. Overly will receive her BA in business management-human resources and Ozenghar, who is a double major, will receive her BA in communications-public relations.

Their names will be announced first so they can hop on the team bus.

“In Div. III you play sports, but the focus is on academics,” Ozenghar said.