If you have been to a Women’s Hockey game this year, chances are you have heard the song “It’s Amore.” Now do not get confused; you are not entering an Italian restaurant, but instead you have just missed a goal by Senior Rosemarie Giarrusso. Giarrusso has been on fire for the Hawks as she looks to close out a historic career with a bang. This season Giarrusso has helped lead the Hawks to a 12-4-3 (8-2-3 ECAC) record which is good enough for 3rd place in the ECAC East.
This season, Giarrusso has contributed 11 goals and 6 assists for a total of 17 points. For most players this would be considered a successful season, but for Giarrusso it means much more. With the points she has contributed this season, Giarrusso has surpassed Kathleen Twomey for the most points in Saint Anselm Women’s Hockey history (129). The six assists have also lifted Giarrusso past Molly Corl for the most assists in Saint Anselm Women’s hockey history (62).
As if breaking these two records were not enough, Giarrusso is closing in on two more records for the Hawks. She needs only eight goals to pass Kathleen Twomey for the most goals scored in a Saint Anselm Women’s Hockey jersey. Additionally, when Giarrusso takes the ice on Saturday, February 2 at Salve Regina, she will be playing in her 100th career game for the Hawks.
When asked about her career at Saint Anselm, Giarrusso responded, “I made the most of every opportunity, and played with no regrets and with my heart. I never lost track of why I am here because it was my dream to play college hockey, and I can honestly say that I am living the dream.”
Saint Anselm was almost not fortunate to land Giarrusso, as she had pretty much made the decision to “hang up [her] skates” until she got a call from Head Coach Kerstin Matthews in January of her senior year.
“It was my senior year and I was about to hang up the skates and go to community college because schools stopped talking to me because I lived in Florida,” explained Giarrusso. “It was not until late January when I got an email from coach asking if I wanted to visit. We made plans to visit in February, and a couple of weeks later I committed. I had never heard of the school, but after seeing the small campus and how nice the team and coach were, I felt comfortable enough to make my decision. Additionally, I was not about to turn down the only coach who was going to give me the opportunity to make my dream come true.”
Giarrusso, a native of Royal Palm Beach Florida, will be graduating in May with a degree in business. She is the daughter of Paul and Ann Marie, and the sister of Joe and Nicole. When not on the ice, Giarrusso enjoys photography and music.