Gritty Dragons: Cuocco, Drexel Defense Leading with Competitive Mindset

Drexel goalkeeper Jenika Cuocco was prepared when she first took the field last season.

She spent the previous year redshirting, learning the pace of the game and getting advice from starting goalkeeper Zoe Bennett. This, plus Cuocco’s hard work on the field, fueled a breakout freshman year highlighted by CAA Goalie and Rookie of the Year honors.

Now Cuocco is picking up where she left off in a stellar sophomore season.

“She carries a quiet confidence with her that is a calming presence within our team,” coach Katie O’Donnell said. “That alone does a lot for a program to know your keeper is calm, cool and collected regardless of the scenario. That translates to the rest of the players.”

Cuocco has been a force for Drexel’s defense, ranking second nationally with a 57.1-percent save rate — an improvement from her 53.2-percent mark last season. Her leadership has been key for Drexel’s defense, powering the unit to a No. 7 national ranking in scoring defense.

Little changed for Cuocco as she prepared for 2024. She worked with the same goalie trainer that she has since fifth grade, doing the same drills she did in high school. But she had a few areas she worked to improve upon, including better communication and leadership.

O’Donnell said she feels Cuocco is competing at the same physical level as last year. The biggest game-changer for Cuocco in 2024: a strong mental game. O’Donnell watched Cuocco gain confidence and hone her mentality throughout her freshman year into this season.

This focus has been clear in Cuocco’s composed performances. She’s been dominant against some of the country’s top teams, posting a 57.7 save percentage against Penn and 56.3 against Maryland.

The defense in front of Cuocco is especially versatile. O’Donnell said Belle McHugh, in her fifth year starting, has been a “phenomenal leader” and pointed to several other strong returning starters. The group is the “Energizer Bunny” of the team, O’Donnell said.

“They are some of the most competitive [players] on the team, the most passionate and intense, but they’re also the goofiest,” O’Donnell said. “As serious as they take game day and their preparation, they don’t take themselves too seriously.”

The defense began building this trust and chemistry last season, when Cuocco said many of the players were new to the unit and were trying to figure each other out. This year, Cuocco said they’ve come out strong because of their closeness off the field.

This chemistry has made a huge difference for Drexel’s entire team. O’Donnell said her program is playing as a unit more consistently than in the past, fueled by players’ support for each other.

This team-first emphasis started in the fall, when the Dragons talked about what they wanted their program to be. O’Donnell and the team’s upperclassmen-led leadership group also introduced a new initiative called the “Gritty Dragon” award, given each week to a player who embodies the program’s team-first mentality.

The approach is paying off for Drexel, which is 8-3 and 3-0 in CAA play. The Dragons have long been a contender in the CAA, going 12-6 in 2023 en route to an NCAA tournament appearance.

Drexel has always been an “underdog story,” Cuocco said. But there’s something different about this year’s team: a strong hunger to succeed.

“We’re really close and everyone wants the best for each other,” Cuocco said. “When we’re on the field, there’s no change. It’s just everyone trying to compete to the highest level and push each other to be better.”