Player Spotlight with Mallory Cuccio
10/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
With the Lady Flames Top 20 showdown against No. 5 Virginia just two days away, LibertyFlames.com highlights this week's player spotlight, senior goalkeeper Mallory Cuccio.
Cuccio hails from Colorado Springs, Colo., and has recorded 53 saves this season. Cuccio became Liberty's all-time saves leader on Sunday against No. 13 Delaware when the senior tallied six saves, giving her 183 career saves and passing Ann Jefferis.
Who introduced you to field hockey?
Cuccio: When I was in seventh grade, a close family friend was an assistant coach on my school district's field hockey team, which was brand new. They had trouble finding goal keepers and since I played inline hockey, she thought the skills would transfer over. Unfortunately I had to wait till I was a ninth grader to actually play, because it was a high school sport.
Tell me about your family. What do your parents, or guardians, do? How many brothers or sisters do you have and what do they do?
Cuccio: I have five people in my family, including myself. My dad is partial owner at a small computer company called IC Interconnect, and my mom works as a NICU Nurse in Denver. I have an older brother and sister, my brother being 26, and my sister 24. My brother works with my dad as a maintenance technician and he is currently going back to get a degree in that same field. My sister is still in school, studying English at the local community college to become a writer.
If you weren't playing field hockey which sport would you enjoy playing?
Cuccio: Before I started field hockey, I was playing competitively in inline (roller) hockey. I love skating around and playing pickup with my brother. Every nice day in the summer, usually the weekends, we would go to the outdoor rinks back home and play pick up. Inline hockey was always a way for me to skate around and relax.
Tell us your recruiting story on how you got to Liberty.
Cuccio: Around the end of my freshman year, I decided to try to play at a collegiate level for field hockey. Being from Colorado, not many people get recruited simply because we do not get enough exposure. So my dad and I researched and emailed every school through all the divisions in NCAA field hockey. My dad found that Liberty was making a field hockey program at the Division I level. I started to get in contact with the coach the end of my junior year and when I came on my official visit, I fell in love with the school and signed that weekend with the coaches. Throughout high school, I never thought that I would end up at a Christian school but I am blessed that God led me down this path.
If you could get away from field hockey for a little bit, what would you enjoy doing?
Cuccio: If I could get away from field hockey, which isn't often, I enjoy doing anything outdoors. Some of my favorite outdoor activities are camping, hiking, rock climbing, hammocking, etc. If it is cold outside, I love spending time with friends, watching movies (preferably super hero movies), or reading a good book.
What are you studying, and what do you enjoy about that?
Cuccio: My degree is Studio/Digital Arts with a teacher licensure, which is studying to be an art teacher. What I enjoy about my major is that I can explore different types of art ranging from sculpture, drawing, graphic design, and photography. I love learning about these new fields and learning different ways to show Gods beauty through artwork. That's what I love about this program because it helps you understand the gifts that God has given you.
Any connections to famous athletes or influential people around the country?
Cuccio: When I used to play inline hockey my coach Al Peterson is a retired player from the Boston Bruins. My high school coach was also part of the USA Men's Olympic Field Hockey team in the 90s.
Who were your heroes growing up, and who did you emulate in the backyard or playground?
Cuccio: My hero when I was growing up was my dad. When I was younger he decided that his family was more important than anything else, so he quit his job and moved us out to Colorado. I am a big daddy's girl and I am grateful that he made that choice so many years ago to be with us, because we wouldn't have had such a close relationship as we do now. Someone I emulated would be a goal keeper from a rival high school. My goal in high school was to beat her out in stats, so I worked hard and my senior year I did.
Big win over No. 13 Delaware this past weekend and now you face No. 5 Virginia at home on Thursday. What are the expectations and mentality from the team heading into Thursday's contest?
Cuccio: Beating Delaware is a huge step in this program, but after every game, we turn the page and prepare for our next game. Virginia is a big game for us and our mentality going into this game is not having a spirit of timidity, especially playing the No. 5 team in the nation. We go into each game as though it is our last, and I think if we come in with a confidence and start as strongly as we did on Sunday, then we will be able to run with them and hopefully beat them. I am excited to play them because of the rematch from last year and a lot of girls want that win this game, it won't be easy, but it will be a good game.
You recently became Liberty's all-time leader in saves with 183, passing Ann Jefferis. What does it mean for you to have left such a strong influence on the program?
Cuccio: I had learned a lot my first two years playing with Ann. She brought a lot to this program and I was fortunate to be able to practice and play alongside her. It is a great feeling to become Liberty's all-time leader in saves, and I hope that the goal keepers following after me can see that through hard work, anything is possible. I didn't have a lot of experience when I came to Liberty. So I hope future goalkeepers will see that if they set their mind to it they can leave an influence like Ann and I have.
