Xavier University Athletics
Sydney Saba - Xavier Lacrosse's First Commit
01.16.23 | Women's Lacrosse
Saba was the first official player to commit to Xavier Lacrosse after the formation of the team was announced
CINCINNATI - Xavier lacrosse is quickly approaching the start of the inaugural season. The first ever gameday for the program is less than four weeks away with Oregon set to be the first opponent for the new program. As the program gears up for a season full of firsts, one of the true first for the program is revealed. Â
In 2020, when the addition of the women's lacrosse program was announced, Head Coach Meg Decker was hired to bring in the best of the best lacrosse players from all over the country. Decker immediate went out to do so. Sydney Saba, a freshman defender from Pittsburgh, Pa., was the first commitment to the inaugural freshman class. Saba will wear the number one for her career at Xavier to represent the milestone for herself and the squad.
Saba collected a plethora of awards and accolades during her high school and club lacrosse careers. She was named to the US Lacrosse Academic All-American Team, participated in the US Lacrosse National High School Tournament, and was named to the Gait Top-20 Showcase Team, the Under Armour All-America Midwest Command Team (2019) and the True National Team (2018) in her club career.
The freshman defender chose Xavier in order to be a part of shaping a new program during the inaugural season, to have the opportunity to set the team culture for years to come, and to improve her skills and compete at the division one level. "The idea of building our own legacy and creating everything from the ground up is new and exciting and was so different from what any other established program had to offer."
Saba, as the first recruit to commit to building the culture and legacy at Xavier, was able to see the team built up around her. The Pittsburg native felt as though the recruiting process was extremely personal and that each recruit had something special to bring to the inaugural roster. "Every time a new commit was announced, it was an opportunity to form a new connection and it reignited the excitement and anticipation for the first season". The sense of purpose that was instilled in each commit allowed for bonds to form far before the team officially came together for their first practice this past fall.
In the inaugural season, the Musketeers will compete in 14 games highlighted by two Power Five matchups and a full BIG EAST schedule. "The anticipation of our first game has been growing for what feels like forever and we can't wait to show everyone what we are able to do" said Saba, "winning is what we came here to do". Xavier lacrosse is striving to create a culture filled with winning, competition, inclusivity, and growth both on and off the field for student-athletes.
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"I remember seeing Sydney on our first prospect day. She had laser focus and intensity when she played. She worked well with each group of players we put her with and she brought an energy and a  strength with her around the field. I was sitting at my dining table surrounded by notes on hundreds of players who wanted to come to Xavier, and when I picked up the phone to make my first call, I remembered how easy Sydney was to talk to. I thought that a player with her skill set would be the perfect person to welcome each new recruit to the Xavier Lacrosse community. And I'm so glad she was. Sydney sent me the video of her running out to tell her friends and family immediately after our call and it is one I hold very close to my heart. It was a very good day."
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• The 2023 women's lacrosse inaugural spring schedule will consist of five home matches and nine road games with a full BIG EAST schedule.
• Xavier women's lacrosse will play teams from seven different conferences in the inaugural season (BIG EAST, Big Ten, PAC-12, Horizon League, Big South, Southern, and Mid-American)
• The Musketeers will also compete against another first year program - the Eastern Michigan Eagles. Both Xavier and Eastern Michigan have spent the last year building programs from the ground up.
• Xavier will participate in BIG EAST play but are ineligible for the conference tournament in the first year of the program. They will be eligible for the tournament in the 2024 spring season.
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• Head Coach Meg Decker came to Xavier from Hartford where she built the program from the ground up. Prior to Hartford, Decker helped build Virginia Commonwealth University's women's lacrosse program from scratch as an assistant coach and was a student-athlete on the inaugural women's lacrosse team at the United States Naval Academy.Â
• Assistant Coach Grace Beshlian comes to Xavier from William and Mary where she spent the 2021-22 year as an assistant coach.  Prior to William and Mary, Beshlian served as a student assistant coach at UConn in 2021 following her standout playing career for the Huskies from 2016-20.
• Director of Operations Erin Rubright arrived at Xavier following a one year stint as the Temple Football Graduate Assistant for Player Development and Recruiting. Prior to Temple, Rubright worked in the Liberty University Football program as a student worker in recruiting. Â
• Xavier Lacrosse's inaugural squad consists of three graduate student, four juniors, two sophomores, and 20 freshmen. With transfers from Vermont, Hartford, Walsh, Duquesne, and Winthrop, the coaching staff at Xavier has established a strong foundation to support the large number of freshman.
In 2020, when the addition of the women's lacrosse program was announced, Head Coach Meg Decker was hired to bring in the best of the best lacrosse players from all over the country. Decker immediate went out to do so. Sydney Saba, a freshman defender from Pittsburgh, Pa., was the first commitment to the inaugural freshman class. Saba will wear the number one for her career at Xavier to represent the milestone for herself and the squad.
Saba collected a plethora of awards and accolades during her high school and club lacrosse careers. She was named to the US Lacrosse Academic All-American Team, participated in the US Lacrosse National High School Tournament, and was named to the Gait Top-20 Showcase Team, the Under Armour All-America Midwest Command Team (2019) and the True National Team (2018) in her club career.
The freshman defender chose Xavier in order to be a part of shaping a new program during the inaugural season, to have the opportunity to set the team culture for years to come, and to improve her skills and compete at the division one level. "The idea of building our own legacy and creating everything from the ground up is new and exciting and was so different from what any other established program had to offer."
Saba, as the first recruit to commit to building the culture and legacy at Xavier, was able to see the team built up around her. The Pittsburg native felt as though the recruiting process was extremely personal and that each recruit had something special to bring to the inaugural roster. "Every time a new commit was announced, it was an opportunity to form a new connection and it reignited the excitement and anticipation for the first season". The sense of purpose that was instilled in each commit allowed for bonds to form far before the team officially came together for their first practice this past fall.
In the inaugural season, the Musketeers will compete in 14 games highlighted by two Power Five matchups and a full BIG EAST schedule. "The anticipation of our first game has been growing for what feels like forever and we can't wait to show everyone what we are able to do" said Saba, "winning is what we came here to do". Xavier lacrosse is striving to create a culture filled with winning, competition, inclusivity, and growth both on and off the field for student-athletes.
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 QUOTING COACH DECKER |
"I remember seeing Sydney on our first prospect day. She had laser focus and intensity when she played. She worked well with each group of players we put her with and she brought an energy and a  strength with her around the field. I was sitting at my dining table surrounded by notes on hundreds of players who wanted to come to Xavier, and when I picked up the phone to make my first call, I remembered how easy Sydney was to talk to. I thought that a player with her skill set would be the perfect person to welcome each new recruit to the Xavier Lacrosse community. And I'm so glad she was. Sydney sent me the video of her running out to tell her friends and family immediately after our call and it is one I hold very close to my heart. It was a very good day."
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 SCHEDULE NOTES |
• The 2023 women's lacrosse inaugural spring schedule will consist of five home matches and nine road games with a full BIG EAST schedule.
• Xavier women's lacrosse will play teams from seven different conferences in the inaugural season (BIG EAST, Big Ten, PAC-12, Horizon League, Big South, Southern, and Mid-American)
• The Musketeers will also compete against another first year program - the Eastern Michigan Eagles. Both Xavier and Eastern Michigan have spent the last year building programs from the ground up.
• Xavier will participate in BIG EAST play but are ineligible for the conference tournament in the first year of the program. They will be eligible for the tournament in the 2024 spring season.
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 PROGRAM NOTES |
• Head Coach Meg Decker came to Xavier from Hartford where she built the program from the ground up. Prior to Hartford, Decker helped build Virginia Commonwealth University's women's lacrosse program from scratch as an assistant coach and was a student-athlete on the inaugural women's lacrosse team at the United States Naval Academy.Â
• Assistant Coach Grace Beshlian comes to Xavier from William and Mary where she spent the 2021-22 year as an assistant coach.  Prior to William and Mary, Beshlian served as a student assistant coach at UConn in 2021 following her standout playing career for the Huskies from 2016-20.
• Director of Operations Erin Rubright arrived at Xavier following a one year stint as the Temple Football Graduate Assistant for Player Development and Recruiting. Prior to Temple, Rubright worked in the Liberty University Football program as a student worker in recruiting. Â
• Xavier Lacrosse's inaugural squad consists of three graduate student, four juniors, two sophomores, and 20 freshmen. With transfers from Vermont, Hartford, Walsh, Duquesne, and Winthrop, the coaching staff at Xavier has established a strong foundation to support the large number of freshman.
Players Mentioned
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