When visitors to Cabrini’s campus walk in Nerney Field House at the Dixon Center, they’re greeted with championship banners hanging from the walls and reflecting the College’s wealthy athletic success. They’ll notice that three banners are shaped and colored differently, set aside from the pack and memorializing very special moments in the department’s history.
Christy Malone knows one of those banners well. Malone could never forget a perfect season.
“Our team chemistry that year was amazing and everyone really played well together,” Malone said. “We knew that that team was made of winners and we played that way. We were a very passionate team and excited to be a part of starting the Cabrini women’s lacrosse tradition.”
The Cabrini women’s lacrosse team went unbeaten in 1998, recording an unblemished 15-0 record overall. Malone, the team’s starting goalkeeper, led the nation with a .675 save percentage – as a freshman.
The rest was history. Malone was named to the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC) First Team four times. She was twice selected the PAC Player of the Year.
Malone helped the Cavaliers to four straight PAC championships, beginning with that remarkable run in 1998. With Malone between the pipes, Cabrini advanced to two NCAA Tournaments and two ECAC Tournaments.
Malone finished her Blue & White tenure with 783 career saves, a .619 career save percentage and a 7.37 career goals-against average. However, ask Malone what keyed her success and she’ll quickly credit the one person that made it all work for her.
“Jackie Neary was more than a coach to me,” Malone said. “She was a coach, a mentor and a friend – Jackie is family to me. She has helped me so much and continues to give me so much advice on how to handle my teams. Jackie is still a huge influence on my life to this day.”
Malone started her coaching career at Division II Philadelphia University in 2003. She coached the Rams for five seasons, including four seasons as head coach. In 2008, Malone was hired as head coach at Division I St. Bonaventure University.
This Spring, Malone might be faced with her toughest challenge yet – looking across the sideline at her friend, mentor and former coach. In 2012, she starts her first season as the head coach at Neumann University when Neary begins her 16th season with the Cavaliers.
“I take a lot of what I learned as student-athlete at Cabrini when I am in the office, when I recruit and when I coach,” Malone said. “I value my experience at Cabrini and try to recreate that experience for my players today.”
Malone is the second member of the Cabrini Athletic Hall of Fame representing the women’s lacrosse program, joining Jessica Valerio Gougler. It’s an honor she’ll not soon take for granted.
“I am very excited and honored to be a part of the Cabrini Athletic Hall of Fame,” Malone said. “To be a part of such great athletes and wonderful coaches is very exciting for me. I am so proud to be a part of this great tradition.”
