Photo by: Chase Cochran|Samford Athletics
Student-Athlete Spotlight: Lindsay Origliasso
11.10.22 | Women's Soccer
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford Athletics is continuing the Student-Athlete Spotlight series, presented by Coca-Cola, which, this week, will highlight Lindsay Origliasso, a senior defender on the Samford soccer team.
Origliasso is a native of Chesterfield, Missouri. She talked about what brought her to Samford.
"I was supposed to go on a visit at another SoCon school and I had told my club coach, I think I'm going to go look here instead of going to Samford," Origliasso said. "And he actually showed up to my house and said, no, you're going to Samford. And I was like, okay, we'll make the trip down to Birmingham. I came on campus and as soon as I met Coach (Yelton), and I wanted to be a lawyer at the time, so I went to the law school, and the school was absolutely beautiful, and the people were so welcoming. I was like, this is my home and it definitely has lived up to that standard."
Samford recently won the Southern Conference Tournament for the third time in the last four years. The championship game against UNC Greensboro ended in a 0-0 tie, but Samford earned the tournament title in penalty kicks, 6-5. Origliasso talked about the experience of being in such a suspenseful game.
"We haven't gone to overtime since the St. John's game (in last season's NCAA Tournament), so playing that extra 20 minutes is a lot on our bodies," Origliasso said. "I think I ended up tracking almost nine miles, so that was a lot. When we were going to PKs, I was a little nervous at the beginning and then I saw Emma Donley's face and she was just like, this is the best thing to happen, and that really gave me confidence. Because for her to step up into that role and be confident in herself, how can I not be? So, I think we were all really excited when she was so excited. Just holding each other's hands through the PKs, we were like, we're winning this game."
Donley has started the last 11 games in goal in place of the injured Morgan McAslan. Origliasso talked about playing in front of Donley for the last part of the season.
"She's so positive," Origliasso said. "She seriously is just an awesome person and an awesome goalkeeper. I think it takes a lot to step into a role, especially for Morgan, because she's an amazing goalkeeper as well. To step into that role and really succeed and just be a good leader on the field while Morgan is leading us off the field, it's just been really cool to see them interact with us and how Emma has taken that role."
The Bulldogs had a tough opening to SoCon play this season, falling to The Citadel and losing McAslan for the season to a knee injury in that game. Despite the adversity, the Samford team persevered and won a share of a ninth-straight SoCon regular season title.
"We had a team meeting after that first weekend and just were talking about what are our goals for this season and how can we still make the best of what we were given," Origliasso said. "I think honestly it took us a little bit, but that Furman game when we beat them, 4-0, was such a turning point for us, and I think after that we were all in this together. We've had a lot of injuries, Morgan, Kyla (Reynolds), Jen (Seward), Annessa (Shively) now, so all of these different things have kind of motivated us to work for the people that can't be on the field with us."
With the SoCon Tournament title, Samford earned its seventh trip to the NCAA Tournament, and the third in the last four seasons. She discussed the experience of playing in the NCAA Tournament in three of her four seasons.
"Coach (Yelton) always says, only seven percent, or even less than seven percent of NCAA student-athletes actually make the tournament, so to be able to do that three times in the last four years is pretty incredible," Origliasso said. "But, if you look at it, only us and Furman (out of the SoCon) have been in the last four, and maybe us, Furman and UNCG in the last eight to 10 years. That number is so significant, and to be a part of something like that is truly incredible and it's putting Samford on the map. I think it shows what we've done for this program and what the people that have gone before us have done."
Samford will open the NCAA Tournament at Georgia Friday evening. Origliasso talked about how she feels about the matchup.
"I was excited," Origliasso said. "We played Georgia in the spring and that was a good game. They're a good team. I'm glad we have this opportunity to play with them and I am just excited to see what this team can do."
Friday night's NCAA Tournament game at Georgia is set for a 5 p.m. (CT) start.
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS:
For the latest news and information on Samford women's soccer, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordSports (Facebook), @SamfordSoccer (Instagram) and @SamfordSoccer (Twitter).
Origliasso is a native of Chesterfield, Missouri. She talked about what brought her to Samford.
"I was supposed to go on a visit at another SoCon school and I had told my club coach, I think I'm going to go look here instead of going to Samford," Origliasso said. "And he actually showed up to my house and said, no, you're going to Samford. And I was like, okay, we'll make the trip down to Birmingham. I came on campus and as soon as I met Coach (Yelton), and I wanted to be a lawyer at the time, so I went to the law school, and the school was absolutely beautiful, and the people were so welcoming. I was like, this is my home and it definitely has lived up to that standard."
Samford recently won the Southern Conference Tournament for the third time in the last four years. The championship game against UNC Greensboro ended in a 0-0 tie, but Samford earned the tournament title in penalty kicks, 6-5. Origliasso talked about the experience of being in such a suspenseful game.
"We haven't gone to overtime since the St. John's game (in last season's NCAA Tournament), so playing that extra 20 minutes is a lot on our bodies," Origliasso said. "I think I ended up tracking almost nine miles, so that was a lot. When we were going to PKs, I was a little nervous at the beginning and then I saw Emma Donley's face and she was just like, this is the best thing to happen, and that really gave me confidence. Because for her to step up into that role and be confident in herself, how can I not be? So, I think we were all really excited when she was so excited. Just holding each other's hands through the PKs, we were like, we're winning this game."
Donley has started the last 11 games in goal in place of the injured Morgan McAslan. Origliasso talked about playing in front of Donley for the last part of the season.
"She's so positive," Origliasso said. "She seriously is just an awesome person and an awesome goalkeeper. I think it takes a lot to step into a role, especially for Morgan, because she's an amazing goalkeeper as well. To step into that role and really succeed and just be a good leader on the field while Morgan is leading us off the field, it's just been really cool to see them interact with us and how Emma has taken that role."
The Bulldogs had a tough opening to SoCon play this season, falling to The Citadel and losing McAslan for the season to a knee injury in that game. Despite the adversity, the Samford team persevered and won a share of a ninth-straight SoCon regular season title.
"We had a team meeting after that first weekend and just were talking about what are our goals for this season and how can we still make the best of what we were given," Origliasso said. "I think honestly it took us a little bit, but that Furman game when we beat them, 4-0, was such a turning point for us, and I think after that we were all in this together. We've had a lot of injuries, Morgan, Kyla (Reynolds), Jen (Seward), Annessa (Shively) now, so all of these different things have kind of motivated us to work for the people that can't be on the field with us."
With the SoCon Tournament title, Samford earned its seventh trip to the NCAA Tournament, and the third in the last four seasons. She discussed the experience of playing in the NCAA Tournament in three of her four seasons.
"Coach (Yelton) always says, only seven percent, or even less than seven percent of NCAA student-athletes actually make the tournament, so to be able to do that three times in the last four years is pretty incredible," Origliasso said. "But, if you look at it, only us and Furman (out of the SoCon) have been in the last four, and maybe us, Furman and UNCG in the last eight to 10 years. That number is so significant, and to be a part of something like that is truly incredible and it's putting Samford on the map. I think it shows what we've done for this program and what the people that have gone before us have done."
Samford will open the NCAA Tournament at Georgia Friday evening. Origliasso talked about how she feels about the matchup.
"I was excited," Origliasso said. "We played Georgia in the spring and that was a good game. They're a good team. I'm glad we have this opportunity to play with them and I am just excited to see what this team can do."
Friday night's NCAA Tournament game at Georgia is set for a 5 p.m. (CT) start.
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS:
For the latest news and information on Samford women's soccer, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordSports (Facebook), @SamfordSoccer (Instagram) and @SamfordSoccer (Twitter).
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's SoccerSunday, November 03
Sunday, November 03
Saturday, November 02
Sunday, October 27
