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The Last Crusades For Captain Kelly

Kelly Crowley, a 2016 graduate of San Marino High School, was named captain of the soccer team at Holy Cross, where she is a senior.

The time is flying by, San Marino High School graduate (Class of 2016) Kelly Crowley says, and she cannot fathom that she is approaching stoppage time of her collegiate athletic career. But Crowley, a senior at the College of the Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts, shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. Before the season, Crowley was chosen by her teammates to serve as one of the Crusaders’ captains and earlier this month was named the Patriot League’s Offensive Player of the Week.

In her typical “team-first” style, Crowley deflected the praise onto her cohorts.

“Everyone played well,” said Crowley, a forward, who during a recent three-game stretch scored three goals and assisted on four others to lock up the honors. “I just got picked out of the hat.”

A four-year starter, Crowley has enjoyed her experience on the East Coast.

“This has been the most incredible four years of my life,” she said. “I am pretty lucky. I love it here so much, and I can’t believe it is coming to an end.”

Used to playing on the soccer fields and softball diamonds of Southern California, Kelly acknowledged that the weather at her chosen university presented at least an initial challenge.

“That was an adjustment,” she exclaimed. “It is notorious for being bitterly cold and I definitely had to acclimate.”

She almost had to adjust to continuing her life with a two fewer teeth. During an August game, Crowley took some friendly fire in the form of a teammate’s elbow to the mouth, which knocked out one tooth and knocked loose another. Crowley said she initially didn’t want to come out of the game (“I had so much adrenaline”) but was forced to take a break due to the resulting blood.

“Someone actually found it on the field and gave it back to me,” she said. “I put it back in and it hasn’t moved.”

Kelly is the daughter of Carolyn and Jon Crowley. Her older brother Charles (Chip), is a 2019 graduate of the United Stated Coast Guard Academy. Her twin brother, Patrick, is currently a senior at the Coast Guard Academy and a member of the Bears’ football team.

FRIENDLY FIRE: A teammate’s elbow knocked out one of Kelly Crowley’s front teeth and loosened another, but did not result in a loss of playing time for the Holy Cross captain.

At San Marino High School, Kelly was a four-year member of the Lady Titan varsity soccer team, serving as captain her junior and senior years and was an all-Rio Hondo League first team selection her sophomore, junior and senior years and league MVP as a senior.

She was also a four-year member of the Lady Titan varsity softball team, serving as captain her sophomore, junior and senior seasons, earning all-Rio Hondo League first team honors following her junior and senior years and was, again, the Rio Hondo League MVP as a senior.

After dropping their first two games, the Crusaders have won or tied every contest since as they battle for a Patriot League title.

“We have really found our stride,” said Captain Kelly. “I am hoping we can get a league championship this year.”

 

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