It’s been hard to acknowledge that Cabrini University’s last sports season ends in June, with the sale of the university to Villanova, writes Bob Grotz for the Daily Local.

Five years ago, Cabrini was at the top of the Division III sports world, with the men’s lacrosse team winning the NCAA national championship.

“It’s kind of like one nun here at Cabrini said, ‘We’re smiling on the outside, crying on the inside,’” said Jackie Neary, a 28-year Cabrini women’s lacrosse and field hockey coach.

It’s been quietly spectacular that so many Cabrini student athletes have stayed for “one last go-round,” she said.

Many of the students wanted to end it right, with people that meant so much to them.

“These girls are my best friends. My sisters,” said junior midfielder Morgan McClintock.

Cabrini’s men’s lacrosse team, the Cavaliers, won another Atlantic East Conference championship and want to finish out with a national championship.

John Dzik, the winningest coach in the history of Cabrini, is worried the university’s sports history and memorabilia will be forgotten. 

There’s still no answer about what will happen to the banners, the plaques and the trophies, he said.

Read more about how the athletes have been impacted as they wind down Cabrini’s last sports season in the Daily Local News.