Mazzola scores 100 career goals
As the morning began, Angelica “Anjay” Mazzola cooked herself breakfast in her home in Long Island.
At the young age of just 12, she began cooking the eggs for herself, as the rest of her family awakens. Known as “the breakfast chef” of her family, she would take requests to cook for her parents and two sisters. At that time, the family chef wasn’t thinking about where she would be a decade later.
Now, in the midst of her senior year at Castleton, Mazzola, a captain on the team, has reached milestone in her career at Castleton by becoming only the seventh player in program history to break 100 career goals. The program is now in it’s 30th season.
On April 7 as the Spartans took on Maine Farmington, Mazzola was just three goals away from breaking 100.
“I really didn’t try and stress on it,” said Mazzola, “but it was really hard trying to not let it effect me.”
With 22 minutes remaining in the first half, Mazzola broke 100.
“When I scored, I tried to not make a big deal of it, like nothing ever happened,” said Mazzola.
However, teammate Jessica Taplin made it known, announcing to the referee that it was her 100th goal. Mazzola received the game ball signed by every one of her teammates to keep as memorabilia.
“It was really nice not to always have people reminding me and counting down after every goal I scored as I approached it,” Mazzola said.
As of right now, Mazzola has 107 goals in her four years at Castleton. The Long Island native also has several other accomplishments under her belt.
In 2010, her sophomore year, she was named to the New England Women’s Lacrosse Alliance All-Conference Second Team. She finished fifth in goals with 25 and fifth in points with 38.
She was also named the team’s MVP. In 2011, she was forth on the team in assists with 12, second in draw controls with 59 and third on the team in points with 48. She was named to the NEWLA All-Conference Second Team again too.
“She has been an integral part of our team since I have been at Castleton,” said head coach Mary Kate Scardillo. “She’s the anchor to our team. She raises our level both on the field and off.”
Scardillo is in her first season as head coach after being the graduate assistant for the Spartan team last season.
As dedicated as she is to athletics, she may be even more dedicated to her studies.
She is graduating in May with a double major in Health Science and Biology. Her goal is to eventually apply to medical school.
“I’m a big science nerd,” Mazzola said laughing. “I just really like anatomy and physiology.”
The science nerd also has an obsession with rap sensation Nicki Minaj and a secret love for Edward Cullen.
“I’m not a twi-hard, I swear,” Mazzola said laughing, defending herself.
The 12-year-old breakfast cook still maintains her love for cooking as well.
“She’s always cooking really yummy meals,” said roommate Meaghan Heuer. “She’s a really good cook.”
Mazzola’s favorite meal to prepare is eggplant parmesan.
She said she also likes cooking a lot of Italian food since she is 100 percent Italian.
“Ever since I was little, my mom taught me how to cook,” said Mazzola. “It’s an Italian thing.”
Mazzola’s family also shares a love for Castleton. Her oldest sister, Francesca, graduated from Castleton when Anjay was just a freshman. Her younger sister, Ally, just transferred to Castleton in the second semester of her freshman year.
“People are a lot nicer around here,” said Anjay laughing. “It’s a lot less congested than Long Island, it’s a totally different feel, and I like that.”
After graduating, Mazzola plans to stay around Castleton to give herself time to adjust and time to figure out the next step, with her goal of med school in mind.
“Anjay has been such a great leader ever since I was a freshman,” said junior teammate Charlotte Farrell. “She’s one of the nicest girls I know, and I’ve always looked up to her.”
Despite graduating and moving on to the next chapter of her life, she will always be part of the women’s lacrosse history.
“She continually makes an impression on the women’s lacrosse program,” said Scardillo. “She will be remembered by her spirit, work-ethic and care for others.”