Sept. 14, 2000

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - It's not often that you see student-athletes at the top of their game and yet remain so modest about their achievements. Especially when that athlete started all 17 games and was among the team's leaders in points during her first season. Briana Rinchiuso '03 scored three goals and recorded two assists last season as a freshman midfielder on the Leopards' women's soccer team. The Norwell, Mass., native finished the season with eight points, fourth on the squad, yet she believes she still has a lot of work to do on her game.

"One of my biggest fears coming here (to Lafayette) was that I wouldn't be able to compete academically or athletically at this level," Rinchiuso said. "It's that fear that drives me to work hard and stay motivated so I can keep up with everyone else."

The phrase "keeping up" doesn't exactly describe a student who holds a 3.20 grade point average, volunteers with the Special Olympics, plays classical piano and stars on the soccer team. Rinchiuso finds that a strict time management system allows her to divide her time between activities, with her academics at the center of it all. And her sights are set well beyond receiving her degree from Lafayette.

"I definitely want to go to graduate school and maybe go even further from there," she said. "I feel that you can never stop learning and that success stems from confidence and knowledge."

A very large part of her life outside of the classroom and off of the playing field is her work with underprivileged youth. Rinchiuso is currently undecided in her choice of major, however, based on her volunteer work with the Special Olympics and camps for physically challenged children, she plans on pursuing a career in child psychology.

"The person who has had the most impact on my life was an autistic boy that I worked with at a track camp a few years ago," she said. "He had so much going against him in life and yet he managed to make the most out of what he was given to live a happy and fulfilling life."

Rinchiuso was a stellar scholar-athlete in her Norwell high school, lettering all four years in both soccer and track while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She was named an Eastern Massachusetts First-Team All-Star her senior season as captain of the soccer team and also helped the South Coast Club Soccer Team to the 1998 State Cup Championship. On the track, Rinchiuso was the 1996 South Shore Principal's Meet champion in the 200 meters and finished first in the 400 meters at the 1998 Falmouth Invitational.

Rinchiuso decided to come to Lafayette to make the most out of her academic and athletic ablilities, but changed her path as soon as she set foot on College Hill. Initially planning on running and playing soccer, she quickly decided that the only running she wanted to do was behind the soccer ball - which was good news to women's soccer coach Wayne Miller.

"Briana is a very well-rounded athlete who immediately made an impact on our team last season," said Miller. "She doesn't hold back and we look to her to be a major contributor again this season."

The Leopards come back after completing the eighth-best turnaround in the nation, going from a 2-15 squad to a 7-9-1 record last season. Miller also welcomes back 11 players to the team, losing only one to graduation. Rinchiuso was one of nine freshmen who started for Miller, combining with two other freshmen in Sarah Harting and Katie Schrack, for 23 points.

Despite her talents on the field, Rinchiuso remains focused on her ultimate career path: exceeding in her academics and putting her degree from Lafayette to work in the community. "I won't settle for giving anything less than my best to anything," she said. "Whether it be on the field, in my schoolwork or helping others, I am always trying my hardest to do everything I can to succeed."

And those around her would expect nothing less.