Laser Spotlight: Alex Lorenzo represents Lasell in GNAC SAAC

Laser forward talks about her experience in SAAC and some expectations for the Lasell Women's soccer team in the upcoming spring season

By Zack Laware

Sophomore Alex Lorenzo of the Lasell women's soccer team discussed her involvement in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Alex serves as the treasurer at Lasell but is also the Lasell representative for the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) SAAC as well.

"SAAC was looking for representatives from each collegiate team and my assistant coaches were asking for participants, so I volunteered."

Once involved Alex found herself as the treasurer at Lasell, which her job entails managing finances for the SAAC, requesting budgets from the Student Government Association (SGA), and also planning and registering the events for SAAC.

Alex then discussed the differences of GNAC compared to the Lasell SAAC, she had many different things to say.

"Being a member of the GNAC SAAC differs from the Lasell SAAC because of the goals each organization has. For Lasell SAAC, we center our events and goals around the Lasell community, to have a positive impact on all members on and off-campus by utilizing the influence student-athletes have."

The main event that they host is the Unified Event which started in 2014. The student-run event put together a series of unified sporting events, such as basketball and soccer, complete with an opening ceremony.

Alex described that the goal of the GNAC SAAC is to bring the colleges and universities together within the conference. They hold events, create challenges, and network with organizations to make this all possible.

"We usually meet virtually due to covid-19 biweekly. My role as a member of the commissioner's council is to bring a perspective as a student-athlete, introduce new ideas on how to get as many student-athletes involved, and connect with other schools."

During the summer she said that the Athletic Director Kristy Walter personally reached out to her asking if she would like to be a member of the GNAC SAAC commissioner's council, which she gladfully accepted.

Transitioning to the topic of Lasell women's soccer, Alex discussed the possibility of a season this upcoming spring. Alex said her goals were high for the season as she is coming off a good freshman campaign in 2019, appearing in all 20 games, starting in five, and tallying one goal and one assist.

"My personal goals for the upcoming spring season are to build chemistry with the team. We will most likely only be practicing (due to the pandemic) and potentially scrimmaging a minimized number of schools so hopefully, before then I can connect with the team more on the field."

The 2019 GNAC semifinal loss to Johnson & Wales was a rare place for the team to finish as they had played in the championship game every year since 2010.

"The key is to improve on positivity and communication. Losing in the semifinals was not the expectation that the team had and we wanted to work together to return to the top of the conference."

The Lasers are now back, working to return to the championship game for the 2021 fall season.

(Zack Laware is a junior Sports Communications major at Lasell and an intern in the Athletic Communications Office)