Spring of Sam: Santeramo's rise among the nation's elite
By Michael Jarosz/Special to BryantBulldogs.com
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – In her third year at Bryant University, junior Samantha Santeramo has become the wall for a strong women's lacrosse team looking to make it back to the NCAA tournament in 2017.
Through the first six days of April action, the Wantagh, N.Y., native has the fifth-best save percentage in the nation and the best in the Northeast Conference at .546. She also ranks eighth nationally in goals against average, limiting opponents to just 8.39 scores while she graces the crease for the Black and Gold.
And after two strong years developing as the next great goalie to come through the Bulldog program, Santeramo has taken the next step to becoming the best netminder in the NEC in 2017.
"Anytime I reflect on my achievements, I just look at how my team is doing," Santeramo said.
As a freshman, Santeramo had been named NEC and ECAC Rookie of the Week and finished the year with a 9.79 goals against average and .409 save percentage, good for third and fifth in the league, respectively. She posted 88 saves that season with a 10-3 record overall in leading the Black and Gold to an NEC title.
But the 5-foot-5 dynamo split time with classmate Daja Andrews throughout the year, as both goalies posted save percentages above .400 and goals against averages that stayed in single digits.
The pair would continue to share time as sophomores, though Santeramo would begin to separate herself as the season pushed on. Her save percentage flirted with .500 throughout the campaign, even surpassing the mark from April 10 through May's NEC Semifinal.
"You have to love competition," said Santeramo. "Daja and I do everything to make each other stronger and to help each other grow. We give each other pointers. We have to use that to better each other."
By season's end, Santeramo had pushed her save percentage to .495 and lowered her goals against average to 7.67 on her way to All-NEC First Team honors. She went 12-2 on the year and led her team back to the NEC Championship Game.
This season, Santeramo has taken her game to the next level, allowing fewer than 10 goals in eight of her 10 starts and posting double-digit saves three times. She reset her career-high saves mark in back-to-back games against Navy (18) and Delaware (19).
"Our two assistant coaches have definitely had a huge influence on where this team is now and where it's going," Santeramo said. "It's been an honor to have [goalie coach] Kelsea [Donnelly] train me, because it's made me so much better.
"Things I definitely wasn't comfortable with doing – even a few months ago – I'm now doing," she continued. "She's giving me so many opportunities to grow as a player, and I just see myself looking back at freshman year and I'm a completely different player."
Santeramo's efforts have made quite a difference for the Bulldogs, who are currently 6-4 on the season. Headlining their successes is the 2017 Ocean State Cup title – the team's first in program history – as the junior goalie held rival Brown to just eight scores in the 9-8 victory.
But with NEC play now in full swing, the Ocean State Cup isn't the only title on Santeramo's mind.
"Every time I step out on the field, I just go out there and I want to be my best for my teammates," she said. "You get to look up there and see how well you're doing. It's a little bit of a humbling experience to be honest.