By BRENDAN SOARES

In this day and age of hyper-specialization, there are still a number of athletes that play multiple sports at the collegiate level, with Warwick natives Katherine Raposo and Madison Nicynski doing so at a high level for their respective schools.

After scoring a team-leading 11 goals for the Albertus Magnus soccer team last fall, Raposo is once again showing off her deadly aim in front of the net for the Falcon lacrosse squad, racking up 36 markers to set the club pace.

The Pilgrim graduate has etched her name onto the scoresheet in all nine games that Albertus Magnus has played thus far, firing past a season-high seven in a 12-11 setback to Regis on March 12 and adding another six ten days later against Dean.

Even though her most prominent contributions to the Falcon cause have been as a ruthless finisher, Raposo has proven that she is not a one-dimensional player, helping out her teammates at both ends of the field.

In addition to her goal-scoring exploits, the former Patriot also currently possesses the team lead in assists (7) and draw controls (36), whereas her 26 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers are both good for third on the Albertus Magnus chart.

Raposo has been the unquestioned standout player for a team that has gone through its fair share of struggles after nabbing an 11-4 win over SUNY-Purchase in its season opener on March 10, going on to lose its next eight games on the spin.

The next opportunity for Raposo and the Falcons to return to the win column comes this Tuesday on the road against Anna Maria, followed by another away trip four days later to Simmons.

Nicynski, like Raposo, spent her autumn on the pitch, making 16 appearances for Mitchell and chalking up three goals, most notably scoring direct from a corner kick in an October match versus the City College of New York.

However, the La Salle product has opted to go in a different direction from Raposo and is suiting up for the Mariners softball team as the starting second baseman, seeing action in all but six contests to date.

Mainly hitting toward the bottom of the order, Nicynski currently possesses a .282 batting average, boosted by a six-game hitting streak that she compiled during Mitchell’s season-opening trip to Florida.

Ever since returning from the Sunshine State, the ex-Ram has had a very up-and-down time at the dish, going a combined 4-for-21 over her eight most recent games with two of those hits coming on March 27 in the Mariners’ 3-0 blanking of Roger Williams.

In terms of run production, Nicynski has driven home three runs while scoring a pair herself, with her most important RBI coming in the third inning of Mitchell’s March 6 meeting with Mount Mary.

With two outs, Nicynski laced a base hit down the right field line to drive home Gemma Landry to put the Mariners ahead 2-0, which was all the offense they needed on their way to a 2-1 decision over the Blue Angels.

The Mitchell nine is currently 10-10 on the spring and will be looking to put the brakes on a four game losing run this Tuesday as they take on the Coast Guard Academy in a doubleheader, their last action before starting conference play versus Lesley on Friday.