SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Susquehanna University sophomore attack Krista O'Brien (Sykesville, Md./Liberty H.S.) recently broke the school women's lacrosse records for both season goals and points – now with 43 goals and 21 assists for 64 points this season. The old records were 40 goals and 55 points set by four-time Middle Atlantic Conference All-Star and current assistant coach Sandy Jenkin (Millersville, Md./Severna Park H.S.) last season.
O'Brien scored a career-high nine points in a 22-6 win at Dickinson on April 20 on four goals and a career-best five assists as she passed Jenkin for the season points record in that game. The five assists also tied for the third most in a game at Susquehanna. She had three goals and an assist for four points in a 13-8 win at Muhlenberg Wednesday, allowing her to break Jenkins' record for goals with the first score just 4:00 into the contest.
Her 21 assists this season also has her tied with senior co-captain and attack wing Dana Makowski (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson H.S.) for the school season assist record. The career assist record-holder with 59, Makowski also had 21 assists in 1999 to set the school season record.
The team's starting second home, O'Brien leads the squad in scoring this season with the 64 points (4.57 ppg) – ranking fourth in the MAC. She is also third in the MAC in assists per game (now 1.50).
Despite being in just her second collegiate season, O'Brien is already ranked second in career assists with 31, third in career scoring with 106 points (School Record: 151, Makowski, 1997-2000), and fifth in goals with 75 (Record: 112, Sandy Jenkin, 1996-99). She averages 3.53 points per game for her career.
Susquehanna will wrap-up its season this weekend with home games Friday and Saturday vs. Messiah and Division II Philadelphia University (formerly Philadelphia Textile) respectively.
"Krista has just had an awesome season for us this year. There have been a couple games
where some of the better teams have slowed her down, but as a whole she has really led our attack," said third-year head coach Gina Lucido, who has now guided her team to a 33-13 record since inheriting a program which went just 11-59 during its first nine years before her arrival. "She will probably hold all our school offensive records by the time she is done here. The most exciting thing about Krista is we have her for two more seasons."
O'Brien is a mass communications major and is the daughter of Ronald and Peggy O'Brien.
Susquehanna enters its final two games at 11-3 overall, 5-1 and a second place finish in the MAC for a third-straight year. The Crusaders could tie their school record for best season ever with wins in those last two contests – tying last year's 13-3 campaign. Two of the three losses this season have come to teams presently ranked in the IWCLA NCAA Division III top 20 in 12th-ranked Rowan and 13th-ranked Drew.
