Fresno State Athletics
When LAX and laughter are life
3/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
By Jason Kelm
jakelm@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - The plane lands on a late night. The players head to baggage claim while the coaches get the keys to the rental vans. Most of the team is quiet, tired and thinking about its upcoming games on the road as well as schoolwork that must get done. The doors to the vans shut and they head to the hotel.
For one van in particular, it doesn't take long before laughter erupts and suddenly no one is quiet, nor tired. If anyone gets a chance to spend time with the Fresno State women's lacrosse team, it wouldn't surprise that person to know that this particular van includes senior Anjelica Fuccillo, and that this road trip is going to be unforgettable.
"She doesn't take herself too seriously," senior captain Sophia Aragon said. "That's the best part of being around her. She's a goofball and keeps things light, but at the same time she can be serious. You get the best of both worlds with her."
Fuccillo, a native of Long Island, N.Y., is approaching the Fresno State all-time career records for games played, total points, goals, assists, shots attempted and shots on goal. She already holds the program record for most free-position goals.
But she doesn't want stats to define her, or her 14-year lacrosse career.
"I want to be remembered for being there for my teammates," Fuccillo said. "I just aspire to be a good person. I try to keep things light. When I need to be serious, I'll be serious. But there needs to be a balance. It's okay to joke around, it's okay to keep things light."
It's a family thing
Lacrosse has been a part of Fuccillo's life since she was 8 years old. Her younger sister Natalie, a freshman defender for James Madison University, has been playing since she was 5 years old. Her dad played football at Catholic University and her cousins played Division I sports at Princeton, Yale and Virginia. The love for sports is in her blood and a way of life.
Fresno State recently returned from spending Easter weekend in San Diego. As a spring sport, it's common to play or practice on that particular weekend, and when asked if she missed spending Easter with her family, she cocked her head and smiled.
"I did spend it with my family," Fuccillo responded. "I was lucky to have my parents come to the game, but you realize that this is your family, right here in Fresno. Your teammates are your family. This is the ultimate family atmosphere when you can't go 'home.' My freshman year, Easter was at Columbia in New York. It was raining sideways, it was freezing. But we were together and that's all that mattered."
Fuccillo grew up in a small town and had always wanted to go to California. When she visited Fresno, it was the perfect fit. It was big, but not too big and immediately felt like family.
"The athletic community here is so great," Fuccillo said. "I knew I would get a good education while having an athletic career. Sports molded who I am as a person and I knew Fresno State was the perfect place to continue playing. I really learned how to overcome adversity. Everything is transferable from the field to the real world."
A new beginning
As graduation nears, the sports marketing major plans to continue her education and pursue a law degree. Her ultimate goal is to become a sports agent. In the meantime, she'll be entering her second season as a summer intern for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball.
"There's just something about sports," Fuccillo said. "It's an industry that's ever-changing. Sports built my character, such as how to adapt and how to communicate, and I want to be a part of that for other people."
Fuccillo is wrapping up her career with her eyes on the future. And not just her future, but Fresno State's.
"I want to make sure that I'm leaving with no unfinished business," Fuccillo said. "We've improved so much since my freshman year and our attitudes and maturity levels have grown a lot. I hope that if I do break these records that someone else is right behind me ready to break them. It shows progression in the program and we're making things happen. This is just the beginning of something great."
The next time you're near the team at a meal, on a plane, or at a baseball game and you hear the sound of laughter, there's a good chance that Fuccillo is nearby, ready to make you smile.
"Be Bold" - Stay connected with the Bulldogs on Facebook (Fresno State Athletics), Instagram (FresnoStateAthletics), Twitter (@FSAthletics) and Snapchat (FSAthletics).
