Gator Lacrosse Looks to Take Next Step

Mar 14, 2006

MEADVILLE, Pa. – After going 8-6 in each of the past two seasons, and 3-3 in North Coast Athletic Conference play, the Allegheny College women’s lacrosse team is on the verge of becoming one of the elite teams in the conference. The Gators made it to the NCAC Championship in 2004 and made it back to the semifinals in 2005. Now, in just its thirteenth season, the team looks to continue to build upon the foundation it has laid.

While Allegheny has just 17 players on this season’s the roster, first year head coach Lynn Zlotkowski has 14 letterwinners and 10 starters back. Seven of the team’s top eight scorers return, as do the starting goalkeeper and four starting defenders.

“This is one of the hardest working teams I have come across,” said Zlotkowski. “The work ethic they bring to the field every day makes up for our small roster size. The leadership from the returners and team chemistry will be major components of the success of our 2006 team.”

The Gators have four attackers on this year’s roster, including senior Anna Gordon, junior Katie DaRin, and sophomore Lana Cannon. Gordon started all 14 games a year ago, while Cannon and DaRin combined to play in 17 contests. Along with talented newcomer Amanda Urick, the attackers will look to create scoring opportunities for the Blue and Gold.

Six midfielders, all returning, look to provide much of the Gator offense. Seniors Emily Deering and Ashley Rogerson along with sophomore Ashley Hughes were the team’s top scorers in 2005, and earned All-NCAC and IWLCA All-Region honors for their efforts. Rogerson and Hughes picked up a team-high 27 goals apiece, while Deering was just off the pace with 26. Also returning to the midfield are senior Danie Parsons, junior Michelle Dudevoir, and sophomore Jenna Balogh. Parsons has 17 goals and 44 ground balls in her career while Dudevoir has scored 19 goals in her two seasons and started every game last year. Balogh played in five games as a freshman, and her quickness will continue to be an asset.

The defense lost just one starter from the 2005 team, and boasts eight talented players this season, including goalkeeper Lesley Stange. As a freshman, Stange allowed just 98 goals, and looks to be even stingier in her sophomore campaign after a good offseason. Returning to aid Stange on defense are senior Lindsay Vance, junior Kelly Towns, and sophomores Laura Hoch and Katie Damico. New to the defense are Katie Murphy and Erin Foster. Vance and Towns have started every Allegheny game during their careers, and Towns was named All-NCAC last year after leading the team in ground balls with 30. Hoch started all 14 contests last season, and was an all-around contributor, while Damico played in nine contests, and should earn an even bigger role this year.

With the way the team has competed the past two seasons, and an outstanding core of returning players, the 2006 season is one with high expectations.

“The seniors, who have come so close the past two years, are looking to close their careers with an NCAC Championship,” said Zlotkowski. “With the amount of heart that this team has I am confident that the underclassmen can step up and help the seniors in achieving that goal.”

The Blue and Gold begin play next week in West Palm Beach, Florida. Game one of the three-game spring break trip comes against New England on March 20 at 4:30 p.m. Upon returning to Meadville the Gators will prepare to host Geneseo, as the teams will meet on Friday, March 31 in a 4:30 p.m. match-up at Robertson Field.

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