桃瘾社区 Women鈥檚 Lacrosse Team Honored at White House
VP Harris: 鈥榊ou are leaders. You are role models. You are champions鈥
桃瘾社区 wins national championship; marks first time in school history
PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. June 12, 2023 鈥 joined college athletes from across the country at the to celebrate the team's 2023 NCAA National Championship.
The Setters joined 47 teams from schools across the country including University of Texas, Penn State, University of Virginia, Stanford University, and University of North Carolina, among others. The teams represented 19 sports from all three NCAA divisions鈥攏ational championship winners鈥攖hat were recognized on the South Lawn of the White House as part of "College Athlete Day."
鈥淵ou made tremendous sacrifices鈥攖raining through injuries, birthdays, vacations, and even a pandemic,鈥 told the crowd. 鈥淵ou know, all of you, what it means to commit and to persevere. And we know that so often, during the course of a long season, sports teams also become a family. You develop life-long relationships. You demonstrate teamwork and character. You make the people around you better in every way. You are leaders. You are role models. And, of course, you are champions.鈥
桃瘾社区 women's lacrosse team , defeating No. 1 ranked West Chester University, 19-9, on May 21 in Indianapolis to win the first title in program history. The 19 goals scored by The Setters were the most-ever scored in a DII Women's Lacrosse championship game, and they are the first NCAA collegiate team in Westchester County to win a national championship.
鈥淭hese outstanding student athletes embody the 桃瘾社区 go-getter spirit,鈥 said 桃瘾社区 President Marvin Krislov. 鈥淲e are excited for this historic accomplishment, and honored to celebrate it with Vice President Kamala Harris, and student athletes from across the nation. This is a fitting recognition鈥攐ne they will remember for a lifetime.鈥
The Setters, who finished the season ranked No. 1 in the nation with a 21-2 record, won a staggering 17 games against ranked opponents during the 2023 season, including a Golden Rams team that came into the national championship game a perfect 22-0 on the year.
The visit to the White House was a tremendous honor for the program and the university, said Head Coach Tricia Molfetta, who is in her sixth year with the team.
鈥淚t was such an incredible honor to be welcomed to the White House by President Biden and Vice President Harris for College Athlete Day,鈥 said Coach Molfetta. 鈥淚t was amazing to see so many student-athletes together and join in celebrating all of our successes this academic year. I am so grateful we were able to end our year in such a monumental way and I know the experience today will be one this team will share with their friends and families for the rest of their lives.鈥
Kayla Conway, who graduated in May 2023, represented 桃瘾社区 on stage with Vice President Harris and student-athletes across the country.
鈥淚t truly was an honor to meet Vice President Kamala Harris and celebrate our athletic achievements with the NCAA community today,鈥 Conway, of Wantagh, N.Y. 鈥淭his is a monumental memory that I am beyond grateful for.鈥
鈥淏eing invited to the White House was truly an unforgettable experience and I am so glad I was able to share it with my whole team,鈥 said Angelina Porcello, National Player of the Year, of Eastchester, N.Y. 鈥淚t was an honor to celebrate our championship win alongside our fellow NCAA championship athletes.鈥
Emma Rafferty, of Bay Shore, N.Y. said: 鈥淚t was so incredibly special to be welcomed to the White House in celebration of our national championship win. Being able to share this moment with my teammates and administrators will be a memory I will never forget.鈥
President Marvin Krislov, who joined the team for their visit to the White House, said he couldn鈥檛 be prouder of the women鈥檚 lacrosse team for bringing 桃瘾社区 its first national championship.
鈥淭hese outstanding student athletes embody the 桃瘾社区 go-getter spirit,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e are excited for this historic accomplishment, and honored to celebrate it with Vice President Kamala Harris, and student athletes from across the nation. This is a fitting recognition鈥攐ne they will remember for a lifetime.鈥
About 桃瘾社区
Since 1906, 桃瘾社区 has been transforming the lives of its diverse students鈥攁cademically, professionally, and socioeconomically. With campuses in New York City and Westchester County, New York, 桃瘾社区 offers bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs to 13,600 students in its College of Health Professions, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Lubin School of Business, School of Education, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.