Fey Targets Second Straight National Title At Adelphi

The Adelphi women’s lacrosse team didn’t just beat its opponents last year – it dismantled them. It won games by an average of 14 goals, including wins by 24-0 and 24-2 counts. The high-powered offense powered the Panthers all the way to its second straight Division II national championship.

Kings Park’s Liz Fey, now a senior at the Garden City campus, was part of the nucleus that carried the load. It was scary how good the Adelphi attack was, averaging nearly 21 goals a game. What’s scarier is that, while opposing defenses were picked apart by graduation, Fey and nearly the entire crew is back for a run at a third title.

Fans will gladly enjoy the on-field fireworks, set to start Feb. 23 at Rollins, with the home debut March 12 against Philadelphia.

“Being the defending national champion, there’s pressure on your shoulders,” Fey said. “Teams want to make a statement by beating the national champion, but we feel that no one can beat us but ourselves. We’re pushing hard every day in practice, conditioning harder, and that’s making us a stronger team.”

Fey picked up lacrosse in fourth grade, and, in her words, she “fell in love with the sport the second my dad got me a stick for Christmas.” In four seasons at Kings Park High, she tallied more than 200 goals, including an Island-best 89 as a junior. Her goal-scoring acumen earned her All-County honors three times and she was named team MVP her junior and senior seasons. Fey also soared in the classroom, twice being named an Academic All-American. The Lady Kingsmen never advanced the first round of the playoffs.

“We weren’t the strongest team – recently, they’re doing much better,” Fey said. “We struggled to win, but that kind of shapes you. Not being on a winning team makes you appreciate putting in the hard work and getting the win.”

From KP, Fey played two seasons at Division I Duquesne, earning Atlantic 10 Conference All-Rookie Team accolades. However, she was unhappy in Pittsburgh and looked to transfer closer to home. She expressed interest to Adelphi coach Joe Spallina, and shortly afterward, she was back on the Island.

She fell right in with the existing Adelphi attack, including Wantagh’s Claire Petersen, Shoreham-Wading River grad Erica Devito and Demmiane Cook of Smithtown East. Fey finished her junior season ranked second behind Petersen in goals (60), assists (24) and points (84). She capped the Panthers’ championship run by registering a goal and a career-high four assists in the national semifinals, as well as three goals and a helper to beat West Chester 17-7 in the title game.

For her work, she was named the NCAA Division II Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Fey was also named an IWLCA First-Team All-American and All-Northeast-10 first teamer.

The chemistry they exhibited a year ago has only strengthened with another year together.

“Everyone’s a talented player to begin with, but we all work together so well,” Fey said. “The dodgers, the feeders, the scorers, the assisters, the role players, everyone comes together. We’re still trying to get better every day and it’s scary that we are.”

If there’s anything working against Adelphi, it’s the prospect of complacency.  The Panthers received all 10 first-place votes in the IWLCA pre-season Division II poll. However, fueling their desire to hoist the hardware at season’s end again is that this year’s championship will take place on Adelphi’s home turf.

“Behind all the talent is the mental aspect of the game,” Fey said. “You don’t want to go through the motions. You’re always pushing for more than you think you can do –by doing that, you push everyone around you. The days you don’t want to get out of bed or you don’t feel good, you run as hard as you can. We’re able to overcome the mental stuff that might hold you back. Everyone’s pushing together and that’s’ why we are who we are.”

When school’s over, the biochemistry major is hoping to attend John Jay College of Criminal Justice for her master’s degree in forensics, with which she’ll look to pursue a career with the FBI or CIA. In the meantime, there’s another national title within the Panthers’ grasp, and Fey will do everything she can to go the distance again.

“Winning the national championship last year was the best feeling I’ve ever experienced,” Fey said. “The only way it could possibly be better is with all my family and friends on Long Island on our home field. That would be a great way to go out.”