Luck And Passion Made Rogato A Champion
By Michael Muldon, Sports Editor
November 21, 2010
Thankfully, Kara Rogato is brimming with talent.
With all her energy and competitiveness, she wouldn't make it as a benchwarmer.
But Rogato has started eight straight years ... four at North Andover High and four for the Worcester State women's soccer team.
"I'm very lucky," said Rogato, a dean's list student with a 3.3 GPA as a criminal justice major with a minor in urban studies. "The coaches I've had, the players I've met, I'm just very, very lucky."
The all-conference midfielder led the Lancers to an NCAA tourney berth.
As a rare three-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star, Rogato had a lot of suitors out of high school.
There was just something about Worcester State.
"It's close to home, about an hour away," she explained.
"It's in a city. Certain areas are pretty fun. The coach was great. I felt comfortable here. I've had a blast. I'm very happy I came here."
Wherever she went, there would be plenty of Rogatos around.
She's the fourth of five talented sisters, all of whom have a first name beginning with the letter K.
Kerry was the Merrimack College lacrosse captain. Kaitlin was the Knights' lacrosse captain. Kristen was a three-sport captain at NA. And youngest sister Kaileigh is a sophomore lacrosse player at North Andover.
"All four older sisters make every game," said Kara.
Same with dad, Rich, a former football captain at St. Mary's of Lynn, and mom, Beverly (McCarty), a North Andover native.
"I look up for them every game," said the Lancer tri-captain. "It's awesome they are there for me."
Kara and her sisters inherited dad's football toughness.
"She always wanted to play," said Rich.
"Last year she had 10 stitches. She was bleeding like a pig. She had to go to the emergency room. But she was texting kids on the field!"
That isn't a big surprise. As North Andover coach Bud McCarthy said her senior year, "You're going to have to kill her to beat her."
Now Kara needs an outlet for those competitive juices.
She plans on playing lacrosse this spring. She was an Eagle-Tribune All-Star at North Andover and played a bit her freshman year of college.
"I just like being part of a team," she said.