2009 Elizabethtown College
Women's Lacrosse Preview
In only its eighth year of existence, the team has improved by leaps and bounds. With the graduation of only one starter, the return of seven All-MAC performers, and the addition of six talented first-year players, this season is one to be excited about.
Leading the way for the Etown attack will be senior Katie Foley (Palmyra, NJ/Holy Cross), who was named first-team All-MAC and second-team All-Metro region last year. Foley set a school record with 70 goals last season and added 19 assists to give her a total of 89 points on the season. She ranks second in program history with 179 goals and 237 points for her career.
Joining her on the attack will be junior Megan Byrnes (Lutherville, MD/Towson), a two-time second-team All-MAC performer. Byrnes had an excellent season last year, posting 50 goals and dishing out 17 assists while shooting at a blistering 62.5 percent.
The attack unit will welcome back two seniors, Kelsea Kozak (Brookhaven, PA/Sun Valley) and Anna Ford (Salisbury, MD/Homeschooled). Kozak led the team with 29 assists to go along with her 14 goals and Ford also contributed with 23 goals and 15 assists to equal 38 points on the year.
Also returning for the Blue Jays will be sophomore Ashley Mogle (Leola, PA/Conestoga Valley), who dished out 11 assists in her first season. First-year students Samantha Redles (Coopersburg, PA/Moravian Academy) and Katelyn Slade (Westminster, MD/Westminster) will round out the group.
In the midfield, first-team All-MAC and second-team All-Region performer Stephanie Kreis (Bel Air, MD/John Carroll School) returns for her junior season. Third on the team with 38 goals and first in ground balls with 36, Kreis was a valuable asset to the unit last season.
Classmate Alisha Sangrey (Colunbia, PA/Hempfield) will also provide firepower, as she was second on the midfield with 17 goals and 8 assists to total 25 points. Sophomore and second-team All-MAC performer Sarah Cullinan (West Chester, PA/West Chester East) will be back as well after she led the team in caused turnovers with 38, scored 13 goals, passed out 11 assists, and picked up 32 ground balls.
The Blue Jays will welcome back junior Katie Caprinolo (Jarrettsville, MD/North Harford), the MAC Rookie of the Year in 2007, who did not play as a sophomore last season.
Also contributing to the midfield will be returning sophomores Meg Cassels (Downingtown, PA/Great Valley) and Sarah Behounek (Street, MD/North Harford). Cassels and Behounek appeared in every game last season, with Cassels registering 16 goals and Behounek six.
Sophomore Kelly Lurz (Baltimore, MD/Towson Catholic) will provide some depth as she comes back for her second year on the team. New players include sophomore transfer Maria DeMatteo (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) and first-year player Mara Mulvaney (Jenkintown, Pa/Jenkintown).
Headlining the Blue Jays defense will be seniors Dana Simmons (Flourtown, PA/Plymouth-Whitemarsh) and Lyndsey Reeve (Turnersville, NJ/Washington Township). Simmons was a repeat first-team All-MAC player and forced 16 turnovers last year to go along with 13 groundballs. Reeve, who was named to the second-team All-MAC squad for the first time in her career, picked up 13 groundballs and caused 14 turnovers.
Junior Caitlin Russell (White Hall, MD/North Harford) will also be a big factor on defense, as will senior Danielle Schaffer (Marmora, NJ/Ocean City), who splits time in the midfield as well. First year players Anna Meerbach (York, PA/York Suburban) and Erika Morgan (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley) will provide depth for the unit.
In goal, senior leader Jenn Hawkins (Harve de Grace, MD/Havre de Grace) returns after being named first team All-MAC and second-team All-Region last season. Hawkins posted a .551 save percentage and 9.15 goals against average against quality opponents and started all 16 games for the Jays. Her backup is junior Becca Watkins (Herndon, VA/Westfield), who appeared in seven games and made 10 saves.
The Blue Jays start their season on Saturday, February 21 against York College at Wolf Field and will start their MAC schedule at home against conference newcomer Eastern University on Saturday, March 14. A difficult non-conference schedule is highlighted by games against nationally-ranked Gettysburg College (March 17, away) and Dickinson College (March 26, home).
-Mike Behounek '10
