St. Joseph's: Seniors

Dana Bieniek

Dana Bieniek: after missing the 2010 season to have a beautiful baby girl, Bieniek came back to the field in 2011 and she closed her career in style. Bieniek returned to her role as starting shortstop and she was outstanding both in the field and at the plate. Bieniek finished 2011 with a .955 fielding percentage, which is an outstanding number for a shortstop, especially with all of the groundballs that Erin Gallagher induces. Bieniek also upped her game at the plate, hitting a career best .306 with 2 HR and 19 RBI. In postseason play, Bieniek elevated her game to another level and she was named to the Atlantic 10 All Tournament team twice (2009 and 2011). When the Hawks needed a big play or a big hit, she always seemed to come through. On offense, she could do a little bit of everything, hitting for average, power, and she could show off her wheels by swiping a few bases as well. Bieniek really left it all on the field in her final and she was a great role model for players who want to start a family and continue playing softball. Coach Terri Adams is going to miss Bieniek leadership and her diving plays at shortstop.

Laura Cardone

Laura Cardone: was a mainstay for the Hawks at the top of the order during her career, including three seasons in the number 2 spot in the lineup and one season as the leadoff hitter. Cardone was a slapper with outstanding bat control and she was one of the top bunters in the conference, including 13 sacrifice bunts this past year. That number might have been even higher if not for her speed out of the box. Cardone was an excellent slapper for Coach Adams and she was part of the terrific trio at the top of the Hawks order, along with Bernadette Moran and Dana Parks. Cardone will gone down as one of the fastest players in St. Joe's history, finishing 2nd in career steals with 35. Cardone was just a steady performer for the Hawks, especially on defense, where she was a four year starter. Cardone patrolled the outfield for the Hawks in all three spots during the course of her career and she could be counted on to make some special plays in the outfield. St. Joseph's is going to miss Cardone's steady presence at the top of the order and in the outfield and she has been a big part of the Hawks' success over the course of her career.

Taylor Korpita

Taylor Korpita: was a very underrated player over the course of her career and she really came on towards the end of her senior season. Korpita grew up near UMass and it is only fitting that she was responsible for delivering the final blow to end UMass' season. Korpita always seemed to step up her game to another level against UMass, as she also blasted a 2-run HR against the Minutewomen in the regular season, giving the Hawks their first win over UMass since the 2004 Atlantic 10 Championship. Both of those games showed that the Hawks are a force to be reckoned with in the Atlantic 10 and Korpita played an important role in that. Korpita was the consummate team player and she performed in every role that she was called on to do. She saw a lot of action as a defensive specialist in her first two seasons, before she picked it up at the plate in her final two years, including 4 HR in her junior season. Korpita was a valuable member of the Hawks and St. Joseph's will miss her in the dugout and on the field.