Looking at the rim, she steps up to the line, cool and confident. Glancing back at her coach (who is also her dad), she notices his nod of approval and takes the shot. Swoosh! Just like that, LoCicero reaches an incredible feat: 1,000 points scored on the varsity team.

LoCicero, a two-time All New York State selection, is a leader who embodies pure tenacity and selflessness. She also excels on the lacrosse field, which is perhaps her best sport. As Coach LoCicero explained after that game, she refused to stop the game to acknowledge her individual achievement of 1,000 points: “She said to me: ‘Are you kidding me, we’re losing; don’t stop this game.’ That kind of tells you the type of player she is. She’s such a competitor,” adds Coach LoCicero.

LoCicero’s versatility and talent has led to team success as well. Last year, the Lady Owls went 9-3 in Nassau Conference A-III and took a trip into the playoffs before being ousted by Jericho by a score of 54-61 in the Nassau “A” out-bracket game. LoCicero averaged 19.6 points per game, while scoring a total of 97 field goals, 40 three-point shots, and 38 free-throws. As her dad describes, LoCicero is a very streaky player. When she starts to make a few shots, the rest seem to fall in effortlessly one after another. Thus, games where she scores above 20 points are somewhat common, and last year’s season was highlighted by a 27-point effort in the opening game of the season, a 33-point explosion against Bethpage on January 3, and 30 points in their penultimate game (and final win) against Glen Cove, where at one point she had hit four three-pointers in a one-minute span.

Although she was disappointed about the results of last year’s season, LoCicero was determined to enter her senior year with intensity, dedication, and drive. “I went into this season with an open mind and excited to see the new opportunities, especially for the underclassmen.” LoCicero’s senior campaign was strong, with on average 18.7 points per game and around 108 field goals scored. Additionally, she hit 27 shots from beyond the arc and 40 from the stripe, further demonstrating her offensive prowess.

LoCicero’s teammates also recognize the impact she has on the floor, such as senior and friend Erin Pender: “Sophia is extremely hard working with everything she does. She always gives everything she has to the team.”

Reflecting on her career, LoCicero is fond of what she and her teammates were able to accomplish in the games they played together: “I am so proud of what my teammates and I have done in our careers.”

Ultimately, LoCicero will take the next step in her athletic career at the East Carolina University, where she will be playing lacrosse for the Pirates. The Owls will definitely miss her next season and for seasons to come.