Hackett sisters redshirting at Abilene Christian

By Brenden Soares
Posted 9/22/16

Prior to the outset of this season, Cranston West alumnae and Abilene Christian running standouts Alexandria and Michaela Hackett had a difficult decision to make: compete in their senior year, or, …

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Hackett sisters redshirting at Abilene Christian

Posted

Prior to the outset of this season, Cranston West alumnae and Abilene Christian running standouts Alexandria and Michaela Hackett had a difficult decision to make: compete in their senior year, or, redshirt with a potential payoff on the horizon.

The payoff in question is the possibility to compete for a national championship, something that neither have been able to do in their collegiate careers due to the Wildcats’ current status as a transitional member of Division I.

With one year remaining in ACU’s countdown towards full D-I membership, both Hacketts, along with a pair of their teammates, opted to redshirt with a view towards challenging the nation’s elite next year.

Although they are not officially competing on the cross-country course this fall, the pair of former Falcons are running unattached at selected meets to keep their legs in motion.

Alexandria and Michaela made their 2016 debuts last Saturday at the Ken Garland Invitational in Denton, Texas, and their fellow competitors can consider themselves extremely fortunate that they were not eligible to score points for Abilene Christian.

In the end, Alexandria had the fastest time in the five-kilometer event, covering the course in 17 minutes, 08.8 seconds, while Michaela was second-quickest, 15.2 seconds off the pace.

The overall team performance was a classic case of “what might have been,” as the Hacketts one-two finish heralded a near-total lockdown of the top five for the Wildcats, with the other redshirting pair finishing in fourth and fifth.

Grammas finding

scoring touch

 

Cranston West product Eleni Grammas has found her scoring touch on the soccer pitch for Rhode Island College, recently scoring the first goals of her collegiate career.

The ex-Falcon broke her duck on Sept. 6, scoring the team’s only goal of the afternoon in the 64th minute of the Anchorwomen’s 3-1 setback to Salve Regina.

Her tally that day served as a prelude for what was to come, as Grammas was the difference-maker on Saturday in RIC’s home clash versus Southern Maine.

In what was the Little East opener for both squads, the Anchorwomen ran home 2-1 winners, with the midfielder scoring both goals.

Grammas opened the scoring in the 36th minute with a deft chip over Huskie goalkeeper Taylor Canastra before Southern Maine leveled proceedings in the 63rd through Jessica Preble.

However, 10 minutes later, Grammas had the last word, as she was able to emerge with the ball inside the penalty area and beat Canastra for the second time.

The win puts the RIC eleven at 2-3 on the young season.

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