By Bridget Algeo
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/2/08

One of the things that Downingtown East starting defender Christie McCabe has learned on the lacrosse field is simple.

“There’s going to be ups and downs,” she says.

A second thing she learned is just as true: “Never give up.”

McCabe’s attitude typifies the spirit of a Downingtown East squad that continues to progress.

McCabe and company, under the direction of coach Caitlin Barbakoff, refuse to be daunted.

“We were struggling there for a while,” notes McCabe of the 11-4 Cougars, who are second to Downingtown West in the Ches-Mont National Conference standings. “Now we’re starting to pull together.”

It seems, too, that McCabe – the Laxzilla/Phillylacrosse.com Female Student-Athlete of the Week – herself is heading in the right direction as well.

After teetering on the idea of continuing her lacrosse career after graduation, she finally committed to play for Dickinson College in central Pennsylvania.

“My dad encouraged me to play in college,” she says of her decision to “stick with lacrosse.”

McCabe, a member of the Girls Athletic Council, which fundraises for worthy causes, also made a second decision for her future.

At Dickinson, the distinguished honor roll recipient plans to study International Business, while pursuing a minor in German. She explains that she gave up her study of German while in high school and is eager to begin learning it again.

She is excited at the prospect of going to Germany while studying abroad at Dickinson.
“I’ve always wanted to travel,” says McCabe, who works two jobs in addition to her school studies and participation in both soccer and lacrosse.

For now, she’ll have to see how far her own squad will travel.

McCabe, a National Honors Society student with a 4.06 GPA, is hopeful that her team will qualify for District 1 play and be a threat.

“We’d like to get past the first round,” she said. “We want to go further this year.”

Tags: Downingtown East, Scholar-Athlete