Newsday: Sileo Hopes to Lead LIU Post to Third Division II Title

2/27/2014 10:27:00 AM

The piece of paper has to be thrown out properly when it's no longer of use in Jackie Sileo's room. Meaning, it really has to be thrown. And when she tosses it, it must land inside the garbage bin.

The reason lies in Sileo's ultracompetitive nature.

"I can make anything into a competition," said the LIU Post women's lacrosse senior attack. "And I have to win. I like to make things fun and competing like that is fun for me. I thrive off it."

The Wantagh graduate has the accolades to prove it, too. After last season, when Sileo had a Division II-best 178 points with 61 goals and 117 assists and led Post to its second straight NCAA Division II national championship, she was named Attacker of the Year by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association. She was also the East Coast Conference Player of the Year.

It was all almost routine for Sileo. After all, she won the same awards the season before. "For me, it's always about what I can do to get better," Sileo said. "There's always room for improvement no matter what you've won or done before."

Post will open its season at 2 p.m. Saturday in a non-league game at home against Bloomsburg. It came as little surprise that the Pioneers were selected to finish atop their conference and Sileo was tabbed preseason player of the year in a conference coaches' poll.

"She's our leader and even in practice and most aspects of her life, she's very competitive," Post coach Meghan McNamara said. "It's kind of cool. It makes it very fun. Her teammates do make fun of her a little for it sometimes, but it's instilled in her. She has such a drive."

And she's far from satisfied. "I want a third championship and I'm not going to be content with just two," Sileo said. "I still have one more year so that's another opportunity to win a championship. So I'm going to work even harder than I've done in the past because this is our last shot. I want to have the best year that I can."