Peveraro Looking to Help Women’s Soccer Improve after Disappointing End to 2013

Senior left back Lexie Peveraro is one of two seniors who anchor ESU’s defense, which allowed just three goals in their first five games Photo Credit / Tory Stella
Senior left back Lexie Peveraro is one of two seniors who anchor ESU’s defense, which allowed just three goals in their first five games Photo Credit / Tory Stella
Senior left back Lexie Peveraro is one of two seniors who anchor ESU’s defense, which allowed just three goals in their first five games.
Photo Credit / Tory Stella

By John Reed
SC Staff Writer

After opening the season with a tough loss at home to Kutztown, the ESU Women’s soccer team has ripped off a four-game winning streak — their latest triumph a 2-1 victory over Mercyhurst on September 20.

Defense is a contributing factor as ESU has yet to give up more than one goal in any outing.

“We are all pumped for this season. We can’t wait to get on that field and win games,” said senior left back Lexie Peveraro.

She continued, “We have a great group of girls and incoming freshman to make this a successful season. If we put in the hard work then we should have no problem getting the results we need.”

Peveraro is from New Hyde Park, NY, which is located on Long Island. It is roughly thirty minutes from New York City, so when she moved to ESU it was quite a change.

“Going from New York to Pennsylvania was something that I never saw coming, but I fell in love with the program. After I made sure they had my major and a great radio program, I knew it was the right spot for me,” revealed Peveraro.

The Warriors return eight starters — Peveraro being the longest tenured player with 54 career starts — and twenty letter winners from last year’s team (8-7-2, 7-7-2).

They finished just shy of the PSAC Tournament where they only needed two more points to secure a spot.

During this year’s preseason, the outlook for ESU’s season began with a middling poll position in the PSAC — which found the Warriors ranked eighth. The expectation was that the Warriors would again be battling for a PSAC Tournament berth.

“The preseason poll is based on the previous season. To me, it is just a ranking and never really accurate,” said Peveraro.

She reiterated her stance by saying, “Based on the way we ended last year it may seem fair, but we are a team to be worried about; we don’t plan on settling in that eighth slot.”

The Warriors kicked off the season with some stiff competition; Kutztown, Edinboro, and Gannon were all projected top-tier teams in the PSAC. With Peveraro and the Warriors securing victories in two out of three games, it is clear that ESU is here to compete.

“We started off the year with some great competition, but every game we play is important. Regardless of any type of ranking, we as a whole will play every game like it is our last,” stated Peveraro.“We are here to win the PSACs and that is how we will perform.”

Peveraro comes from a close-knit family where she grew up watching her two older siblings play sports.

Both her older brother, a baseball player, and her older sister, a soccer player, excelled athletically on the collegiate level.

“I definitely got soccer from my siblings. My brother played soccer until he fell in love with baseball and my sister played soccer at college,” said Peveraro.

As a former member of both the National Honor Society and the Foreign Language Honor Society, Peveraro values education.

“My grandfather and my parents always made the importance of academics clear. If I wanted to play a sport in college and be away at school I would have to maintain a 3.0 average,” stated Peveraro.

Currently in the midst of her senior year, Peveraro plans on graduating with a dual-degree in Communication Studies and Public Relations.

She has an interest in radio broadcasting and interned for a radio station in New York City over summer break.

“I love the fast-paced environment and upbeat energy that the radio brings. I would love to be on-air someday, but just being in that type of environment is exactly where I want this major to take me,” explained Peveraro.

Soccer’s place in her life after college is still up in the air as Peveraro begins to embrace the bitter sweet feelings that come with the realization that she is competing in her last collegiate season as an ESU soccer player.

Email John at:
jreed18@live.esu.edu