There was plenty of uncertainty when Gabby Buscemi (East Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) made her way to the University of New Haven campus in 2020. Not only did COVID-19 limit the Chargers to just a pair of games in the season before her arrival, but the global pandemic also impacted the recruiting process for Buscemi and countless other student-athletes across the country.

Buscemi found herself in the starting lineup in her first collegiate game and the goalie from East Patchogue, N.Y. made nine saves to lead the Chargers to a 17-7 win at Kathy Zolad Stadium. She has been a driving force within the program ever since.

Just two scheduled home games are remaining for Buscemi with the hope of earning an additional home date driving the senior goalie and her teammates.

New Haven is currently third in the Northeast-10 standings with a 6-2 record in conference play. There are three games left in the regular season against Adelphi who is ahead of the Chargers in the NE10 standings and two others versus Franklin Pierce and Saint Michael's, who are a combined 4-12 in the NE10 so there is a chance that the Chargers can secure a home game in the NE10 quarterfinals by finishing fourth or better.

"It would be pretty special, I haven't had a home playoff game since my freshman year was when you were playing half the conference," Buscemi said. "It was definitely different. This would be special if we had a home playoff game in the conference playoff."

New Haven won that home playoff game against Southern Connecticut State before falling to Le Moyne in the Southwest Division semifinals.

New Haven opened the last two Northeast Conference tournaments on the road, falling to Stonehill and Pace.

Buscemi has plenty of confidence in the team playing in front of her.

"I think when all the pieces click on the field, we do really well and I think we are picking it up now," Buscemi said. "I think it is a crucial part of the season that we have to stay on the gas so we are comfortable."

Buscemi is currently second in New Haven's program history with 568 career saves and is 36 saves behind Heather Gebhardt for the No. 2 spot. She is second with 33 wins and sixth with a .469 save percentage.

Starting immediately was just fine with Buscemi.

"It was what I faced in high school as well, I was thrown into that position of immediately starting on varsity so I am kind of comfortable with it but I wasn't necessarily expecting it," Buscemi said. "It was kind of nice to come in and compete with another goalie in my class. It forced me to compete each day and try to make each other better."

How has she piled up such impressive stats? Buscemi is quick to credit the players in front of her.

There are 11 players who have started at least 10 games this season, six of them are either seniors or graduate students and two others are juniors.

"I attribute a lot of that to my team as well," Buscemi said. "We brought in some new players my sophomore year and those freshmen are now juniors. Three of them have been in front of me for three years so we are pretty comfortable."

New Haven is 4-2 at home this season with just the games remaining on Wednesday against Adelphi and on April 27 against Franklin Pierce.