Senior Celebration Series: Women's Lacrosse

At Rensselaer, we are proud to recognize the student-athletes who are members of the Class of 2021. We thank them for their hard work, dedication and tremendous efforts in representing the Institute in a first-class manner academically and athletically. We wish them well in all their future endeavors. 

LEXI DECHIARIO

Berwyn, Pennsylvania | Biomedical Engineering

Favorite RPI Athletics Memory: My favorite memory has to be our spring training trip last year. It was so special getting to bond with my teammates outside of Troy. We truly made the most of the time we had together through home cooked meals, trips to the beach and just biking around. It was an unforgettable time with my teammates and best friends!

What Makes Rensselaer So Special: Rensselaer has a very supportive atmosphere that drives students to achieve success. From peers to mentors and professors, everyone is looking out for you to make sure you have all the tools necessary to build a future for yourself. 

Post-Graduation Plans: I will be continuing my education at RPI as a co-terminal student, working towards my MEng in Biomedical Engineering. 

WHAT OTHERS SAY:

• Super fun to play with, awesome teammate. Known for her signature off speed shot. 
• Lexi is a strong and focused player and student and I can’t wait to see how successful she is after graduation. She’s done big things here and she will continue to do so after graduation.
• Lexi has had to take on a lot of roles on our team, successfully playing anything from defense to middie to attack. Even after she found out that she would not be able to play any more games for RPI, she remained dedicated to the team, helping to prepare the underclassman to have successful seasons in the future. She is incredibly easy to talk to and is always one of the most welcoming to the new class of teammates coming in. Lexi will definitely be missed both on and off the field next year!
• Lexi was such a great friend to go through the last four years of college with. She is kind and always willing to help; whether helping you through a new drill or teaching you a play. Her dedication to lacrosse and her fitness was always obvious when she played, and it motivated her teammates around her. I know she made an impact on all of her teammates, and I will miss practicing and playing with her next year!
• From a coach: Lexi’s transformation from her first year to her senior year has been quiet and powerful. Once she recognized her ability to be the strongest physical player on the field, she embraced that strength and used it to her benefit. She devoted herself to functional strength in the weight room and found many ways to make it translate in her lacrosse game. As she developed her game knowledge, her confidence in herself and her ability to impact the game really blossomed. Lexi makes it easy for people to befriend her; she is easy-going, listens well, and genuinely wants to be there for her community. That tendency to support others really shone through in her passion for philanthropy and giving back.

OLIVIA JACKSON

Eagle Bridge, New York | Biological Neuroscience

Favorite RPI Athletics Memory: My favorite moment has to be the last lacrosse game of spring 2020. We were in Hilton Head on our Spring Break trip, right before shutdowns began. I didn’t know that this was my last game of college, nor that my first two college lacrosse goals scored that game would be my last. I will never forget the moment I walked off the field after my first goal and I had my whole team hugging me and cheering for me, with my family in the stands doing the same. It’s a moment I will miss for the rest of my life. I told my parents plenty of times to not feel obligated to spend the money to fly down and watch the games in Hilton Head, but they insisted, and now I’m forever grateful. Their unwavering commitment to support me through my athletic career allowed them to be there for a game that was seemingly average at the time, but ended up being one of the most sentimental games of my life. 

What Makes Rensselaer So Special: RPI has been so special to me because I have been able to spend four years surrounded by tremendously smart, driven, athletic people who would never think twice about helping somebody out, whether it be in class or on the field. The humility of the student-athletes here has allowed for such a collaborative environment that has made it possible for me to succeed and make the absolute best of my four years here academically, athletically and socially. The personal growth I have experienced here has made me into a person I am proud to be, and will follow me for the rest of my life.

Post-Graduation Plans: I will be attending Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine, hoping to end up in some form of surgery involving orthopedics, trauma, and/or sports medicine. 

WHAT OTHERS SAY:

• OJ is one of the friendliest, most welcoming people I know. She ensures everyone feels included and valued and you can always turn to her for advice or just to talk. She makes balancing two sports and a pre-med course load look effortless. She is going to make an amazing doctor and her positive presence on our team will be missed next year!
• OJ is one of the hardest working people I have met. She not only strives for academic excellence, but would always be out early before practice to run drills or practice shooting. I am excited to see OJ pursue her dreams in medical school as it is extremely well deserved. 
• I'm so happy Olivia decided to join the women's lacrosse team during her time at RPI. She's always excited to be active, particularly if it's lacrosse related, and I'm so impressed with how hard she has worked to improve over the last three years. Her work ethic is unmatched, and I know it will help her as she moves on to medical school next fall.
• You were always an encouraging player on the field, pushing everyone to their fullest potential. We will definitely miss you and good luck at med school!
• OJ brings an energy to every setting that is unmatched. She brightens up any room she enters and is always there to encourage her teammates no matter the situation. She is a great friend, teammate, student and most importantly, role model. She has truly shown what drive and determination can do, and I can't wait to see her successes in her future medical career.
• From a coach: The passion and drive OJ has for her team is evident, but even more so is the care and thoughtfulness she has for her teammates. Never one to back down from a challenge, demonstrated by OJ’s long list of involvement across campus, she is also very insightful and takes the time to make sure everyone on the team feels included and welcomed.  She was instrumental in making the new members of our team feel accepted into the program right away, and we will miss her constant support and encouragement!
• From a coach: To say that OJ cares about everyone, is an understatement. She fosters her relationships with every individual on the team, and while she believes that it’s for her own enjoyment, her connection with people benefits the entire team. Her passion for her sports, her people, her philanthropic causes, and her journey in medicine is palpable and contagious. OJ brings her enthusiasm to learn and develop her game to the field, weight room and film study. While she is her biggest critic, she has learned to find joy and pride in accomplishing even the smallest skill. That growth has been the most profound to witness, as a coach. I’ve seen her confidence soar and with that confidence, she is eager to provide her wisdom to others in need of a boost.

LEEANNE JONES

Buffalo, New York | Chemical Engineering

Favorite RPI Athletics Memory: Spring Break in Colorado freshman year. Even though it was a little tough adjusting to the altitude, we played some really competitive teams and improved a lot over a week. It was also my first chance to really get to know and love everyone on the team :)

What Makes Rensselaer So Special: Rensselaer is special because it provides the opportunity to be a part of close-knit community at a prestigious, research university. At RPI, I have had access to so many resources that have helped me learn and grow as I've completed my engineering degree. I have also been able to play a sport that I love in a supportive athletics community, surrounded by many impressive and motivated student-athletes.

Post-Graduation Plans: I am graduating with my degree in chemical engineering and going to work in biotechnology.

WHAT OTHERS SAY:

• Leeanne is the most focused and put together person I have ever met. She has the determination, skills and brains to be extremely successful and an amazing leader. She is a great role model and should be used as one by anyone around her.
• Leeanne is the embodiment of a leader and a captain. She works hard every day with a smile on her face and doesn't look or ask for recognition. As a defender, she definitely does not get as many headlines as other players, but everyone knows that our team could not have been nearly as successful without Leeanne's shutdown 1 v 1 defense. When we were finally able to restart practices, Leeanne knew that she would not be able to play another game at RPI, but instead of feeling sorry for herself, she remained dedicated to preparing the underclassman for the next seasons to come. Our team won't be the same without Leanne next year, but I know she will be successful with whatever she chooses to do. 
• She's definitely the dark horse of the defenders on our team. People stand no chance against her on the field and she always succeeds in the most miraculous ways. 
• From a coach: Leeanne Jones is the consummate team player and it started with her commitment to being the best she could be, as a defender, a teammate and as a leader. She was willing to do all the hard work behind the scenes and on her own time, so that she had the skill, understanding and focus to devote herself to everyone else in the team environment. While her voice may be quiet, her positive intentions and work ethic are loud, clear and on display. These character traits of Leeanne’s are evident in all that she does from her community involvement, her philanthropy, to her academic drive.  She earned the captain role because of her integrity, coachability and her consistent play. She also earned the captain role because she is supportive, level headed and selfless off the field.

NORA MOLINO

Niskayuna, New York | Mechanical Engineering

Favorite RPI Athletics Memory: Playing soccer (if you want to call it that) in the locker room with the whole team right before a home game. A close second is everything about each Spring Break trip - it’s so fun to spend a whole week with your friends living it up together!

What Makes Rensselaer So Special: My friends and the people who surround me make this place special. Love you guys <3

Post-Graduation Plans: I’m staying a fifth year at RPI to get a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering.  

WHAT OTHERS SAY:

• Nora has been a great leader on the women's lacrosse team over her last four years at RPI. She's adaptable, so she's always willing to lead a new drill or try a new play. She's super quick to learn and develop new skills, and her athleticism and stick skills have been such an important part of the team's success over the last few years. She always comes to practice with a smile, and I will miss seeing her every day! The team is so lucky to have her returning next season.
• She is a hardworking and bubbly person who is both motivating on the field and emotionally supportive off the field. I’ve been so lucky to play with her. 
• Nora is one of the hardest workers I know. Continuously running up and down the field on midfield is not as easy as she makes it look! She is a key player on both ends of the field and always steps up in big moments. Off the field, Nora is unapologetically herself and is always able to make all of us laugh. I am so happy she is able to come back next year, as the team would not be the same without her on or off the field.
• She's a hard worker on and off the field. She is also one of those players that makes you better the more you play against her in practice, which makes her so vital to our team chemistry. 
• From a coach: Nora has an incredibly quick first step and speed across the field. She has been able to utilize her speed and quickness to become a draw control leader for our team. She took on the role of draw control possession as a mission and has truly honed her skills and read on this particular aspect of the game to be a difference maker for us. Nora is a true midfielder and plays both ends of the ball. She is tasked with marking the opposing team’s biggest threat while being asked to produce points on the offensive end. She is capable of providing a spark on both ends of the field.  Nora’s willingness to offer up her experience and knowledge to her teammates is done in way that resonates well with everyone.

Attention Rensselaer student-athletes, coaches & staff: Should you wish to add any information or provide comments, please click HERE and submit the form.

as of May 20, 2021