Women's Lacrosse Looks Ahead In 2007
WOMEN'S LACROSSE LOOKS AHEAD IN 2007
CHICOPEE, MA, March 21, 2007 - Following a record-setting 2005 season in which it recorded its most wins in a season in 15 years, advanced to its first-ever New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance (NEWLA) Championship game and had a team-record seven players named All-NEWLA, including four First Team selections, Elms College's women's lacrosse team appeared poised at a return trip to the NEWLA Tournament title game.
Instead, however, the Blazers opened the 2006 season with eight straight losses and never recovered en route to a 2-11 record.
Despite the disappointment, fifth-year head coach Katie Grabiec believes her players learned a valuable lesson for 2007.
"Last year was a rude awakening for our team," Coach Grabiec said. "They found out the hard way it is not as easy at they thought to just make it right back to that (NEWLA) championship game."
ATTACKERS
The good news is the Blazers return three of their top five scorers from a year ago, including junior attack wing Caitlin Childs (Hingham, MA), a 2006 First Team All-NEWLA selection who led the Blazers in both goals (28) and points (30) last season.
Junior center Lauren O'Donnell (Hampden, MA) registered 16 goals, 20 points. She was also second on the team in both draw controls (15) and caused turnovers (21) to provide proven experience and athleticism in the midfield for the Blazers.
Seniors Jill Jacobs (Douglas, MA), Colleen Strunk (Stoneham, MA) and juniors Francine Haddon (East Haven, CT) and Princess Eckles (Belmont Port of Spain, Trinidad) all return from a year ago to provide experience up front.
Freshmen Melissa Pava (Springfield, MA), Tamara Iwanski (Chicopee, MA), Kaitlyn Graham (Paxton, MA), Sarah Dowd (Windsor Locks, CT) and Jess Shea (South Hadley, MA) will all view for starting spots to give the Blazers even more versatility.
Although the loss of now-assistant coach Holly Stevens '06 (graduation) and Carrie Allard (prior academic commitment) leaves a void of a combined 35 goals from a year ago to fill, Coach Grabiec is optimistic her team has enough versatility and depth to fill those numbers.
"We have so many options with lineups now that it is almost overwhelming," Coach Grabiec noted.
DEFENDERS
The Blazers should be rock-solid defensively with the return of five defenders, including junior Raemarie Josefiak (Springfield, MA), the NEWLA's regular season leader in both ground balls per game (6.00) and caused turnovers per game (2.69) in 2006.
Elms College, which led all NCAA Division III teams in ground balls per game a year ago, also returns senior Stephanie Charles (Williston, VT), juniors Kerri Vetrano (Sandwich, MA) and Catherine Thresher (West Suffield, CT), as well as sophomore Sarah Lapolice (West Springfield, MA).
Freshman Ashley Ziemba (West Springfield, MA) joins the core group of veteran defenders and is expected to earn significant playing time right away this season.
GOALKEEPING
Sophomore Alicia Bobbie (Higganum, CT) will take over between the pipes following the graduation of two-year starting goalkeeper Sheila Murphy '06.
Despite the new face, Coach Grabiec is quick to note Bobbie's impact should be immediate for the Blazers this season.
"Alicia has high school playing experience at Haddam-Killingworth and is a great athlete," Coach Grabiec said. "I believe this is the most certain our goalkeeping has been in my five years as head coach at Elms College."
SCHEDULE
Following a cancellation (at Manhattanville) and postponement (versus Rhode Island College) of their first two games, the Blazers will open up the 2007 season at Farmingdale State on March 24.
The Blazers will then play their home opener against defending NEWLA champion Western New England on March 29 in what should provide an early-season test.
The schedule gets no easier, as the Blazers host Smith College five days later.
From there, the team plays nine games over the final 22 days of the regular season, including six against NEWLA opponents.
WRAP-UP
In all, seven of the Blazers 11 returnees played on the 2005 NEWLA Tournament finalist team - something not lost upon Coach Grabiec.
"We are a year older, wiser and stronger so I believe that will be to our advantage," she said.