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CU women's lacrosse team pays tribute to Julia Sarcona

Courtesy CU Athletics 

“It’s been heartbreaking for our team and our program,” says Colorado head lacrosse coach Ann Elliott.

“For us it’s about going one step at a time right now and trying to figure out everything together.”

Step by step, the team will slowly heal their broken hearts.

Early Saturday morning, Julia Sarcona, a senior attacker on CU’s women’s lacrosse team, died in a single-car accident on Colorado Highway 119, just west of Boulder.

Her teammate, roommate, and friend, Sydney Evensen, struggles to be at home right now. Her room sits right across from Julia’s.

“Part of you feels like you’re still gonna get there and she’s still going to be in the apartment when you walk back,” said Evensen, a senior defender with the Buffs. “And then, as soon as I saw my other roommates and friends, that was the hardest thing.”

Sarcona wasn’t the Buffs superstar, logging two goals and two assists in her three seasons with the team, but her true value came with her humor and overall love for life.

“If you ask anybody on this team, whether they’re a senior or a freshman, she’s impacted their lives,” adds Elliott. “She’s been a leader and someone they can look to as a role model. Just in the way she carried herself and approaches every day.”

Evensen arrived in Boulder in 2015, the same time as Sarcona. As the second-ever recruiting class for CU’s lacrosse program, the duo were inseparable.

“Her and I kinda shared a role in the sense that, yeah we weren’t lighting up all the stats, but we always had each other to kinda…to kinda like lean on,” Evensen said, wiping away tears. “But I mean, she made practice so fun. We’d put our cleats on and she’d be doing a weird laugh or like running around skipping and she was always just someone you could count on to make your day better and just someone that you would look forward to seeing.”

Losing Sacona left those who loved her in shock, so it’s only best that they rely on each other during a time like this.

“I couldn’t imagine going through something like this, not being a part of a team like this,” Evensen added. “Just so much love and support and just being with each other and I think that’s the best thing we have.”

The photos, videos, and memories they have of Julia will be treasured.

“There’s a piece that’s gone but we’re gonna remember who she was and remember the memories we had together.”

Following Wednesday’s practice, the entire team will fly to Philadelphia to attend her funeral.

The team has plans to place a photo of Julia outside their locker room and, later, add a special patch to their jerseys.

Rest in peace, Julia.

“It’s been heartbreaking for our team and our program,” says Colorado head lacrosse coach Ann Elliott.

“For us it’s about going one step at a time right now and trying to figure out everything together.”

Step by step, the team will slowly heal their broken hearts.

Early Saturday morning, Julia Sarcona, a senior attacker on CU’s women’s lacrosse team, died in a single-car accident on Colorado Highway 119, just west of Boulder.

Her teammate, roommate, and friend, Sydney Evensen, struggles to be at home right now. Her room sits right across from Julia’s.

“Part of you feels like you’re still gonna get there and she’s still going to be in the apartment when you walk back,” said Evensen, a senior defender with the Buffs. “And then, as soon as I saw my other roommates and friends, that was the hardest thing.”

Sarcona wasn’t the Buffs superstar, logging two goals and two assists in her three seasons with the team, but her true value came with her humor and overall love for life.

“If you ask anybody on this team, whether they’re a senior or a freshman, she’s impacted their lives,” adds Elliott. “She’s been a leader and someone they can look to as a role model. Just in the way she carried herself and approaches every day.”

Evensen arrived in Boulder in 2015, the same time as Sarcona. As the second-ever recruiting class for CU’s lacrosse program, the duo were inseparable.

“Her and I kinda shared a role in the sense that, yeah we weren’t lighting up all the stats, but we always had each other to kinda…to kinda like lean on,” Evensen said, wiping away tears. “But I mean, she made practice so fun. We’d put our cleats on and she’d be doing a weird laugh or like running around skipping and she was always just someone you could count on to make your day better and just someone that you would look forward to seeing.”

Losing Sacona left those who loved her in shock, so it’s only best that they rely on each other during a time like this.

“I couldn’t imagine going through something like this, not being a part of a team like this,” Evensen added. “Just so much love and support and just being with each other and I think that’s the best thing we have.”

The photos, videos, and memories they have of Julia will be treasured.

“There’s a piece that’s gone but we’re gonna remember who she was and remember the memories we had together.”

Following Wednesday’s practice, the entire team will fly to Philadelphia to attend her funeral.

The team has plans to place a photo of Julia outside their locker room and, later, add a special patch to their jerseys.

Rest in peace, Julia.

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