Lehigh University Athletics
Softball seniors reflect on their Lehigh experience
4/17/2014 3:20:00 PM | Softball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh softball program will recognize its five-member senior class prior to the start of Saturday's key Patriot League doubleheader against Holy Cross. The Class of 2014 has won 64 percent of its games including Patriot League Tournament titles in each of its first two seasons. This senior class is looking to lead Lehigh to its third straight Patriot League regular season title and its third NCAA tournament appearance in four years.
With Senior Day festivities set for Saturday, Lehighsports.com caught up with the five members of the Lehigh softball class of 2014.
#8 Kelsey Lee – Pitcher – Wilmette, Ill. – English/Psychology
What's your favorite Lehigh Softball memory up until this point?
KL: The experience of winning the Patriot League championship and advancing to NCAA Regionals is amazing. Between the championship game, the trophy, the ring, the selection show, and playing against some of the best teams in the country...it truly is the ultimate capstone to a season.
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
KL: I would like to be remembered at Lehigh as a hardworking, positive, and compassionate person, both on and off the field.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
KL: I absolutely adore my fellow seniors. In my opinion, we're the perfect combination of goofy, sweet, and down-to-earth. What's not to like about the class of 2014?!
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of your thoughts as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
KL: It's hard to believe that Senior Day is here and my time in the brown and white is coming to a close. These past four years have flown by, and I'm grateful for all of the memories I've made along the way.
What will you miss most about Lehigh softball?
KL: Above all else, I'm going to miss my teammates. I have been fortunate to have played with some amazing girls during my career, and getting to spend time with them every day has been an absolute blast.
What are your postgraduate plans?
KL: I will be working as a Marketing Assistant for Computer Aid, Inc. in Chicago. Working world, here I come!
#6 Jessica Long – Catcher – Howell, N.J. - Finance
What's your favorite Lehigh Softball memory up until this point?
JL: I cannot pinpoint my favorite Lehigh Softball memory. I have been fortunate enough to experience so many amazing times with the teammates I've had over my past four years that all of those memories will stay with me forever
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
JL: I would like to be remembered as a teammate that was always there for a teammate in need, on and off the field. I feel that I gained this characteristic through the seniors I had my freshman year, and I hope that this legacy continues onward. I hope that our team remains close and maintains the family dynamic we are lucky enough to experience on our team.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
JL: The rest of the seniors and I have become extremely close over the past four years. We have so many numerous inside jokes, special poses, and unforgettable memories together. We were always able to relate to each other, and will definitely stay in contact long after our Lehigh careers have come to an end.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of your thoughts as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
JL: Going into Senior Day, it feels bittersweet. I am of course excited to continue on with my life, but am also bitter that I have to leave this wonderful team and the sport of softball. As my collegiate career is coming to an end, I am focusing on having as much fun with my sisters as I possibly can.
What will you miss most about Lehigh softball?
JL: The thing I will miss the most about Lehigh Softball is the team bond that we've always had. I always felt that I had a family away from home, and I know that not every team is blessed enough to have that. I will miss all of the funny memories and weird quirks that our team has had.
What are your postgraduate plans?
JL: After graduation, I plan on jumping right into the working world. I have established a position at Merrill Lynch Bank of America, and look to continue a career in finance in my future.
#4 Lizzy Odren – Infield – Landenberg, Pa. – Earth and Environmental Science
What's your favorite Lehigh Softball memory up until this point?
LO: My favorite Lehigh softball memory up until this point is a collective one. The team and I have so many little superstitions that we absolutely must follow before and during every game, and I love being a part of that.
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
LO: I would like to be remembered as a great teammate and a great friend.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
LO: I'm extremely close with my fellow seniors. We've become very good friends over the course of our four years together, and I definitely want to stay as connected as possible with them after graduation.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of your thoughts as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
LO: It's a very bittersweet feeling going into Senior Day. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that the end of my collegiate career is rapidly approaching; it doesn't seem real yet. At the same time, I'm excited to move onto the next chapter of my life.
What will you miss most about Lehigh softball?
LO: I will miss having immediate "access", if you will, to my teammates. I love each and every one of my fellow Lehigh softball girls, and I'm really going to miss hanging out as a team.
What are your postgraduate plans?
LO: I'm currently searching for an entry-level position in the environmental sciences, primarily in environmental consulting.
#22 Ashley Quigley – Pitcher – Mesa, Ariz. – Computer Science
What's your favorite Lehigh Softball memory up until this point?
AQ: My favorite memory is getting to go to the NCAA regional games my freshman and sophomore years. Participating in the selection show and getting to play competitive teams was an exciting experience.
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
AQ: I hope that I'll be remembered as a great supporter of my teammates because I do believe in each and every one of them and I have no doubt that these girls will accomplish great things.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
AQ: I am so lucky to have my fellow seniors who have become my closest friends. We bring out the best qualities in each other and understand one another's weird quirks. Through these four years we have all grown stronger and more confident together and that is something that will keep us bonded for life.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of your thoughts as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
AQ: I have very mixed emotions knowing that Senior Day is approaching. Once you share the joys of success and the heartbreak of defeat with a group of people this special it makes you reluctant to leave. Senior Day just reminds me of how grateful I am for the time that I have had with these girls and I will forever carry them in my heart.
What will you miss most about Lehigh softball?
AQ: I will obviously miss the girls on the team the most. We spend so much time together that the separation will be strange.
What are your postgraduate plans?
AQ: I plan on staying in the area after graduation and pursuing a career as a Web Developer.
#24 Kristin Taft – Outfield – Millstone Twp., N.J. - Psychology
What's your favorite Lehigh Softball memory up until this point?
KT: There are too many good memories to count, but my favorite memories include winning the Patriot League Championship both freshman and sophomore year. It is a great feeling to be a part of a championship program and being able to share it with such a special team was a truly unforgettable experience.
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
KT: I would not only like to be remembered as a great teammate, but also a great friend.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
KT: Our senior class consists of a very unique group of people. We all have such different personalities, but at the same time we get along incredibly. I don't know what I would do without them throughout the four years that we have been here. We have gotten to know each other so well and we are pretty much inseparable.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of your thoughts as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
KT: It is a bittersweet feeling knowing that my college career is coming to an end. It is a sad time because we will no longer be a part of the sport that we have played for a majority of our lives and also to no longer be around the teammates that we have considered family for four years. I am also excited to see what the future holds for me.
What will you miss most about Lehigh softball?
KT: As I said before, my teammates are like family to me. The Lehigh softball program consists of an incredible group of girls who would do anything for one another, and to leave that behind is going to be very tough. Being able to spend almost every day at practice and games with great friends who make the experience fun and exciting is a great privilege and I will definitely miss that aspect of Lehigh softball.
What are your postgraduate plans?
KT: After Lehigh, I will hopefully be attending graduate school for clinical psychology.
With Senior Day festivities set for Saturday, Lehighsports.com caught up with the five members of the Lehigh softball class of 2014.
#8 Kelsey Lee – Pitcher – Wilmette, Ill. – English/Psychology
A hard worker, both on and off the field, Kelsey Lee has held many roles at Lehigh but has always put her team and teammates first. A double major with a 3.53 GPA in English and Psychology, Lee is a three-time member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. She won four games as a freshman and captured one Patriot League Rookie of the Week award.
What's your favorite Lehigh Softball memory up until this point?
KL: The experience of winning the Patriot League championship and advancing to NCAA Regionals is amazing. Between the championship game, the trophy, the ring, the selection show, and playing against some of the best teams in the country...it truly is the ultimate capstone to a season.
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
KL: I would like to be remembered at Lehigh as a hardworking, positive, and compassionate person, both on and off the field.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
KL: I absolutely adore my fellow seniors. In my opinion, we're the perfect combination of goofy, sweet, and down-to-earth. What's not to like about the class of 2014?!
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of your thoughts as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
KL: It's hard to believe that Senior Day is here and my time in the brown and white is coming to a close. These past four years have flown by, and I'm grateful for all of the memories I've made along the way.
What will you miss most about Lehigh softball?
KL: Above all else, I'm going to miss my teammates. I have been fortunate to have played with some amazing girls during my career, and getting to spend time with them every day has been an absolute blast.
What are your postgraduate plans?
KL: I will be working as a Marketing Assistant for Computer Aid, Inc. in Chicago. Working world, here I come!
#6 Jessica Long – Catcher – Howell, N.J. - Finance
Jess Long came to Lehigh as a strong-armed catcher and selflessly put in time in the outfield and at third base in her career before returning behind the plate in her senior season. Long has battled through injury to post a perfect fielding percentage to date in her senior season, while throwing out a career-best four would-be base stealers in 2014.
What's your favorite Lehigh Softball memory up until this point?
JL: I cannot pinpoint my favorite Lehigh Softball memory. I have been fortunate enough to experience so many amazing times with the teammates I've had over my past four years that all of those memories will stay with me forever
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
JL: I would like to be remembered as a teammate that was always there for a teammate in need, on and off the field. I feel that I gained this characteristic through the seniors I had my freshman year, and I hope that this legacy continues onward. I hope that our team remains close and maintains the family dynamic we are lucky enough to experience on our team.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
JL: The rest of the seniors and I have become extremely close over the past four years. We have so many numerous inside jokes, special poses, and unforgettable memories together. We were always able to relate to each other, and will definitely stay in contact long after our Lehigh careers have come to an end.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of your thoughts as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
JL: Going into Senior Day, it feels bittersweet. I am of course excited to continue on with my life, but am also bitter that I have to leave this wonderful team and the sport of softball. As my collegiate career is coming to an end, I am focusing on having as much fun with my sisters as I possibly can.
What will you miss most about Lehigh softball?
JL: The thing I will miss the most about Lehigh Softball is the team bond that we've always had. I always felt that I had a family away from home, and I know that not every team is blessed enough to have that. I will miss all of the funny memories and weird quirks that our team has had.
What are your postgraduate plans?
JL: After graduation, I plan on jumping right into the working world. I have established a position at Merrill Lynch Bank of America, and look to continue a career in finance in my future.
#4 Lizzy Odren – Infield – Landenberg, Pa. – Earth and Environmental Science
A versatile student-athlete who has taken full advantage of her Lehigh experience, Lizzy Odren has appeared in nearly 160 games for the Brown and White. Odren started 42 games in the middle infield her first two years and has selflessly worked in the outfield as well, while establishing herself as one of Lehigh's most reliable runners off the bench. She will leave Lehigh as one of its top graduates in Earth and Environmental Science.
What's your favorite Lehigh Softball memory up until this point?
LO: My favorite Lehigh softball memory up until this point is a collective one. The team and I have so many little superstitions that we absolutely must follow before and during every game, and I love being a part of that.
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
LO: I would like to be remembered as a great teammate and a great friend.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
LO: I'm extremely close with my fellow seniors. We've become very good friends over the course of our four years together, and I definitely want to stay as connected as possible with them after graduation.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of your thoughts as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
LO: It's a very bittersweet feeling going into Senior Day. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that the end of my collegiate career is rapidly approaching; it doesn't seem real yet. At the same time, I'm excited to move onto the next chapter of my life.
What will you miss most about Lehigh softball?
LO: I will miss having immediate "access", if you will, to my teammates. I love each and every one of my fellow Lehigh softball girls, and I'm really going to miss hanging out as a team.
What are your postgraduate plans?
LO: I'm currently searching for an entry-level position in the environmental sciences, primarily in environmental consulting.
#22 Ashley Quigley – Pitcher – Mesa, Ariz. – Computer Science
In four years Ashley Quigley has morphed from a quiet, compliant freshman into a senior leader and strong competitor. The Arizona native owns 25 career wins and 187 strikeouts in 261.1 innings of work. Her first career victory was a five-inning no-hitter against Wagner in 2011. A computer science major, Quigley established a career high with 12 strikeouts (including eight in a row) against Lafayette earlier this year.
What's your favorite Lehigh Softball memory up until this point?
AQ: My favorite memory is getting to go to the NCAA regional games my freshman and sophomore years. Participating in the selection show and getting to play competitive teams was an exciting experience.
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
AQ: I hope that I'll be remembered as a great supporter of my teammates because I do believe in each and every one of them and I have no doubt that these girls will accomplish great things.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
AQ: I am so lucky to have my fellow seniors who have become my closest friends. We bring out the best qualities in each other and understand one another's weird quirks. Through these four years we have all grown stronger and more confident together and that is something that will keep us bonded for life.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of your thoughts as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
AQ: I have very mixed emotions knowing that Senior Day is approaching. Once you share the joys of success and the heartbreak of defeat with a group of people this special it makes you reluctant to leave. Senior Day just reminds me of how grateful I am for the time that I have had with these girls and I will forever carry them in my heart.
What will you miss most about Lehigh softball?
AQ: I will obviously miss the girls on the team the most. We spend so much time together that the separation will be strange.
What are your postgraduate plans?
AQ: I plan on staying in the area after graduation and pursuing a career as a Web Developer.
#24 Kristin Taft – Outfield – Millstone Twp., N.J. - Psychology
The most accomplished offensive player in the senior class, Kristin Taft owns 29 hits and 13 RBI in 139 career games. "Krafty" as she has come to be known has always offered a helping hand and put the team first, while becoming one of Lehigh's most reliable hitters and runners off the bench. The psychology major owns a 3.0 GPA and belted her only career home run last year against North Dakota.
What's your favorite Lehigh Softball memory up until this point?
KT: There are too many good memories to count, but my favorite memories include winning the Patriot League Championship both freshman and sophomore year. It is a great feeling to be a part of a championship program and being able to share it with such a special team was a truly unforgettable experience.
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
KT: I would not only like to be remembered as a great teammate, but also a great friend.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
KT: Our senior class consists of a very unique group of people. We all have such different personalities, but at the same time we get along incredibly. I don't know what I would do without them throughout the four years that we have been here. We have gotten to know each other so well and we are pretty much inseparable.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of your thoughts as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
KT: It is a bittersweet feeling knowing that my college career is coming to an end. It is a sad time because we will no longer be a part of the sport that we have played for a majority of our lives and also to no longer be around the teammates that we have considered family for four years. I am also excited to see what the future holds for me.
What will you miss most about Lehigh softball?
KT: As I said before, my teammates are like family to me. The Lehigh softball program consists of an incredible group of girls who would do anything for one another, and to leave that behind is going to be very tough. Being able to spend almost every day at practice and games with great friends who make the experience fun and exciting is a great privilege and I will definitely miss that aspect of Lehigh softball.
What are your postgraduate plans?
KT: After Lehigh, I will hopefully be attending graduate school for clinical psychology.
Players Mentioned
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