Plum grad Casile helps lead W&J women's lacrosse to PAC title with MVP performance on defense

Conventional wisdom says defense wins championships. And yet, when championships are won, defensive players seldom receive the spoils.

Washington & Jefferson women’s lacrosse defender Sam Casile earned a little respect for defensive players everywhere. After the Presidents secured their second consecutive Presidents’ Athletic Conference title and NCAA Division III Tournament berth with a 13-5 win over Grove City, the Plum grad was named the tournament’s most outstanding player.

The Presidents gave up a combined 11 goals to Saint Vincent and Grove City in the tournament, and those teams ranked first and third, respectively, in the PAC in goals per game. Against the Bearcats, Casile tied for the team lead with four ground balls and three caused turnovers, and, against the Wolverines, she had six ground balls and again tied for the team lead with four caused turnovers.

W&J coach Alison Valerio said a defender winning the MVP award is “not unusual but definitely uncommon.”

“It was something she had consistently done throughout the whole season, and I just thought it was a nice honor for her as a defender,” said Valerio, who just completed her ninth season at W&J. “Normally (the MVP) goes to a midfielder or somebody who scores a lot of goals and tends to get more credit and stand out more.”

Added Casile: “It was just reflective of our entire unit on defense. … I don’t think there’s many teams that see defensive competition like what we have. I was just proud to be part of that defensive unit. After I got (the award), I remember talking to some of the other defensive players and saying, ‘It’s a step for defensive players!’ ”

Casile arrived at W&J having played mostly offense during her time at Plum and in club lacrosse. Valerio and her staff took note of Casile’s strength and footwork, however, and thought Casile was better suited to play defense.

But in preseason during her freshman year, Casile suffered a torn ACL. Her older brother, Frank, who, at the time was a senior lacrosse player at Saint Vincent, also suffered a torn ACL, so the pair went through rehab together.

“We’d always joke that siblings that tear their ACLs together stay together,” she said with a laugh. “It was a good bonding moment.”

Knowing she was going to move to defense upon her return, Casile rehabbed with a purpose. Not only did she want to come back, she wanted to come back stronger than before so she could be ready for the rigors of her new role.

“When she came back, she was in the best shape I have ever seen a player in before,” Valerio said.

Casile also sharpened her cerebral game while she was on crutches. She stood on the sidelines and watched as her teammates competed, and she said it gave her a whole new perspective on her game.

With college lacrosse not being prominent in the Pittsburgh area, Casile had little exposure to high-level competition. But having a chance to observe, she said, made her a better player in the long run.

“A lot of people call me crazy when I say this, but I honestly think tearing my ACL was the greatest thing that ever happened to me,” said Casile, who will be a senior next season. “As awful as it was, it just gave me a different perspective on my health, my mental health and just the game of lacrosse in general.”

Earning PAC Most Outstanding Player was the culmination of her work. She admitted the transition to defense was hard, but knowing what she missed while being sidelined made her happy to play no matter where she was.

Defense turned out to be a great place for her. She said she worked hard to improve on ground balls, and that, along with her natural tenacity and athleticism, Valerio said, made her a force.

“She just has a natural presence,” Valerio said. “We can rely on her to do a lot. She’s not afraid to take risks. She’s not afraid to step out. A lot of times, she takes the bulk of the pressure of guarding more key players on the opponents’ offenses.”

And that helped make W&J champions and her an MVP.

“I just wanted to not be hesitant,” Casile said of the PAC title game. “I wanted to get that caused turnover. I wanted to get that ground ball. And be good aggressive.”