DeCeglia Team First

As the Sussex lacrosse team prepared for the start of the 2021 season to begin, they welcomed a Long Island native who was an experienced goalie and who also had a tremendous love for the game.

"We were a week or so into the start of the preseason, had a goalie, and were looking for someone who could play attack." said head coach Steve Manitta. "Joe didn't flinch when I asked him. He just said, "whatever you guys need."

DeCeglia was always ready to help in the cage if needed, but understood his role, and made the absolute best of it.

"I learned so much about the game playing attack." said DeCeglia, a graphic design major at Sussex. " My teammates were great. They were very welcoming. I knew I had made the right decision from day one."

DeCeglia improved throughout the season, becoming more and more comfortable scoring goals instead of stopping them.  

"I put in some extra work after practice with the guys, and it paid off." DeCeglia continued.  

Joe's big payday would come against Del Tech in the Region XIX championship, scoring 4 of his 5 goals in the second half, helping the Skylanders win 21-11 and advance to the NJCAA tournament in the schools first sanctioned season.

"I wasn't expecting to score 5 goals in a game." said DeCeglia, "We were playing with 12 guys all season, the "dirty dozen", we were all putting in the work."

With the addition of several talented incoming freshman this fall semester, Joe DeCeglia will continue to "put in the work" as he returns to his more comfortable goalie position for the Skylanders.