University of Delaware Athletics
BLUE HEN SPOTLIGHT: From Upstate New York to Northern Delaware, Dattellas and Hawley Remain Close
4/20/2016 3:41:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
Written by Erin Dunne, Athletics Media Relations Student Intern
Over the course of a student-athlete's career, their teammates become like family; a backbone to lean on, a support system on and off the field, and s
upportive friends while they are at school. Grueling practices and early wake-up calls are done alongside teammates, who rely on one another to get them through tough days to achieve success on the field.
For two Blue Hens on the Delaware women's lacrosse team, their family-like friendship extends way beyond that of their four years in Newark. Kara Dattellas and Shannon Hawley, both hailing from Camillus, New York, have been playing together since the young age of seven. The two have played for Dattellas' father, Carl, in summer camps, played for the same middle school, and live just a block away from one another in Syracuse region.
Their high school, West Genesee, dominated their section for all four years and they won states in their senior season. The two offensive players played prominent roles on the team and were individually recruited to Delaware, signing just months after one another in their senior year.
“Coming to school, I wouldn't have wanted anyone else with me but Kara. We sat together every bus trip for lacrosse in high school and we have done the same thing at college too,” remarked Hawley. “We were bus buddies, we've always been partners for drills, and of all people I would have chosen Kara to be here with me.”
West Genesee is an area rich with lacrosse traditions and both girl's families grew up surrounded by the sport, so it only seemed natural for them to play as well. Hawley's uncle, John Desko, is an All-American 
and legendary head coach for the Syracuse men's lacrosse team while several of her siblings and cousins are also involved with the sport, which influenced her decision to play.
Dattellas' father (at left) coached the girls throughout their time growing up and two of her three sisters played lacrosse, one of them with Hawley's older sister. The girls interweave lacrosse and family, which only makes their relationship and strength on the field stronger.
“West Genesee is an area that's filled with lacrosse, so I feel like you are bound to play when you come from there,” Dattellas commented. “I think that you go to summer camps, you play at school, it's something you just enjoy and you meet friends, like me and Shannon, and it pushed us closer.”
While coming to a new school can feel 
like being a small fish in a big pond, Hawley and Dattellas had one another to lean on, a bond that has only grown in the years since.
“I think the best part is that we know each other's tendencies and we know how to talk to each other when we need encouragement or what the best approach is,” recalled Hawley. “I'm so comfortable with Kara that I know what works for her and she knows what works for me. If I'm having a bad day, I know I can look at Kara and she will know exactly what to do.”
While both offensive players say there are innumerable benefits to having someone they know so well with them throughout their time at Delaware, they appreciate how they can lift one another up should things not be going their way on or off the field.
“I think there are a lot of good
parts, but it's always good to have someone to lean back on and talk to,” stated Dattellas. “If Shannon is having a bad day on the field or if I'm having a bad a bad day, we always look at each other and relax each other, which helps you get through it.”
Now, as the girls approach their final games of the season, they look to one another and their many years spent together on the field, passing balls back and forth between their laced-up pockets to approach the future. They know they will have their strong friendship, years of playing and their home roots strung between them to always keep them together.
“It going to be weird to not be together next year,” Dattellas mentioned. “But our families will most likely always be back in Syracuse, so it will be nice to know we always have there to go back to.”
