By Leighton Schneider

Ivana Lahcanksi is a midfielder and defender for the Fordham Women’s Soccer team out of Rochester, NY. She played 14 games as a freshman, started seven in her sophomore campaign and started all 18 games this past season while posting a career-high three goals and seven points.

The Fordham Ram: When did you start getting serious about playing soccer in college?

Ivana Lahcanski: In high school I was on an elite club team and that was a transitional moment, where I decide to go play D-1. With all the traveling we did and the teams that we were playing, it was really setting me up to play at Fordham, because of the high caliber of teams we were playing and the high caliber of soccer we were expected to play.
TFR: What was your recruiting process?
IL: My brother and sister played sports in college, so my parents knew what they were doing when they got to me. What we did was make little information cards and hand them out to coaches on the sideline that were coming to my game. They would be able to see my schedule for that weekend, the position I played and a couple of little facts about me. I would then follow up with a lot of emails, be very persistent.
TFR: How did you decide on going to Fordham?
IL: Ultimately, Fordham was in the top bracket of the schools that I wanted to go to. They had a great location, which was a key for me. What they had to offer with the business school and the Division I program was very enticing to me and it ultimately won me over.
TFR: What are your goals for the season, either as a team or as an individual?
IL: At the beginning of the year we set a lot of team goals that we wanted to accomplish. We really want to make it into the A-10 tournament. We’ve really been pushing each other hard at practice. We want to have all home wins in conference play, we want to have that home field advantage and give the fans who support us a good show.
TFR: Have you taken a bigger leadership role this season?
IL: I think that our senior class has done a really good job at getting the team together and unifying them. We’re all on the same page of making it into the A-10s. As one of the seniors, I really take it upon my self to push other people at practice. I make sure that each practice doesn’t fall below a certain standard because, we know that it will set us up better for the A-10 tournament, especially when we play harder and harder teams.
TFR: How has the team changed since your freshman year?
IL: I think the culture of the team has changed. I think everyone is more unified with the same goal and pushing each other. There is a more positive atmosphere.
TFR: What’s your favorite non-soccer thing about Fordham?
IL: I think the proximity to the city. I like to go into the city and shop around, and see my friends. My sister and brother live there so I like to pop in and meet up with them. There’s so much to do.
TFR: What are your plans after graduation?
IL: I will be joining JP Morgan in their prime brokerage division.