Those statistics are great on paper, but to Cassidy, they are something she is not too concerned about. So unconcerned, in fact, she laughed after hearing how high up in the national rankings she is.

“In the end, (stats are) what coaches look at to size up a player,” Cassidy said. “But the way I look at it, our defensive unit is very cohesive.”

And that is just the kind of person Cassidy is — someone who is far more concerned about her team’s accomplishments than her own individual accolades. She was at a loss of words to describe her own individual performance on the year, but she noted what her goal was walking into the season.

It might not be a surprise to hear that her No. 1 goal entering every year is to give her team a consistent performance in net during the season in order to keep the Spartans competitive.

Cassidy’s reliability in net is a luxury for the Spartans. But arguably the biggest asset that Cassidy brings to the table is her leadership ability on and off the field.

“(Cassidy) has been solid for us (on the field); we can always count on her,” sophomore midfielder Becky Stiles said. “Off the field, she is just always there for you and always stepping up while starting practice and bringing us all together.”

Cassidy, one of the five “skippers,” or captains, of the team, has gone above her role as simply being a goalie; she has also stepped into a coaching role as well.

“She takes a leadership role with the backfield in terms of getting people organized and (teaching) formations,” head coach Helen Knull said.

Cassidy noted at least four players have switched from their usual positions this season and having that on-field commander is vital to the team. Aside from being a vocal leader on the field during games, Cassidy also takes time to work with her teammates during practice.

“(Cassidy) coaches really well; she will pull you aside and tell you that ‘you did this, while you could do this,’” Stiles said.

Although Cassidy can be an intense and determined leader, she shows a side that isn’t always seen in competitors.

Knull, who has been around field hockey for a good portion of her life, has encountered many goalies in her career. There is something about Cassidy, however, that is noticeably different than other goalies she has been around.

To dedicate your career to putting your body in front of hard balls throttling toward you at high speeds, it isn’t too far off base to think goalies are a bit different. Something that is off base, however, is the pure enjoyment Cassidy finds during what are the most intense parts of the game.

“The thing with Molly is that you know she is playing well when she is laughing in the goal,” Knull said.

“And sometimes you will actually hear her giggle after a save.”

Giggling after making a big play might seem unusual, but then again, Cassidy’s passion for the game combined with her skill and leadership makes her anything but a usual player.