Staten Island, NY – One of the many advantages that Wagner College students enjoy is the campus' close proximity to Manhattan, which is a short, free ferry ride away, so rather than embarking on a Spring Break trip to some far away destination, Seahawk second-year head women's lacrosse coach Liz Frisoli decided to stick close to home.
 
As part of a series of team-bonding initiatives on March 11, Frisoli and her team set their alarm clocks early and made the short trek to Rockefeller Center in midtown to take in a live viewing of the The Today Show, where they had the bonus opportunity to meet host Matt Lauer, co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and the entire cast.
 
"It's always great to spend time with my girls off the field. Due to the fact that we were home for Spring Break this year, I really wanted the week to have a "Stay-cation" feel," said Frisoli. "We had a lot of team meals and a team trip to the movies, but our trip to the Today Show was really the highlight of our week,"
 
In addition to being close to the Big Apple, it's good to have friends in high places and, as luck would have it, one of Frisoli's friends from her college days at Holy Cross University, Katie Buckley, is a producer at Today.
 
"It was great to meet Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie, get some air time, and cheer our heads off," she added. "I pride myself on my team chemistry. My girls are truly best friends on and off the field, so luckily, I don't have to put too much effort into their relationships. That said, any time we can bond as a team off the field is important. To prepare for our 4:00 a.m. wake-up call, the girls had a pizza party and made signs. They had a blast with it."
 
Another by-product of attending the Today Show for the women's lacrosse team members was the chance to meet the show's newest member, Wrangler, a Yellow Labrador. This Puppy with a Purpose joined the show in January and is in the studio every day while training to become a guide dog through Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a New York nonprofit organization.

"G

etting  to meet Wrangler, the adorable puppy in training, and Matt Lauer was great!," said junior co-captain Kimmy Tumolo.

"I loved the puppy too!," said senior co-captain Megan Sardella. "Attending the Today Show was an awesome team-bonding experience. I really enjoyed the fact that we got to go behind the scenes and take photos with all the broadcasters. To be able to watch the show being filmed through the glass windows, then hearing it on the television outside was like nothing I've ever experienced before."
 
"I am really fortunate to have been a part of some amazing teams, both as a player, and a coach," Frisoli said. "Last year, while on Spring Break in Florida, we took a team trip to the Daytona International Speedway. That was fun, and then we beat Stetson later that day!"
 
"Our families and friends got to see us on TV and it was cool to see the inside workings of a live show, and all of the components that go into making it successful," said Tumolo. "The energy and excitement from the live show was contagious and got the team in good spirits. The team was very thankful and appreciative for the experience and would do it again! "
 
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