Lacrosse Year in Review

May 16, 2006

MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny College women’s lacrosse team had a breakout year in 2006, going 9-7 overall and 4-2 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). Both win totals set new school records, with the ninth overall win advancing the Gators to the NCAC Championship game.

In the NCAC semifinals the #3 seeded Gators avenged a 15-9 regular season loss to the #2 seeded Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops. Down 6-4 at the half, Allegheny came out of the break with four consecutive goals on the way to a 9-7 win. In the championship, host and #4 seed Denison would prove to be too much, winning 11-7, and ending Allegheny’s year one win shy of an NCAA Division III Tournament automatic bid.

The team, which had not finished higher than sixth in the first ten years of NCAC play, has now placed second in two of the past three seasons.

“The progress of this team has been remarkable considering the talent in our conference,” said head coach Lynn Zlotkowski. “For Allegheny to keep competing at such a high level and to continue to improve in the standings has taken hard work from everyone on the team.”

Helping lead the team since 2003 was a class of five seniors. The winningest class in the history of the program, they made 270 of a possible 285 starts, scored 233 goals, collected 55 assists, and picked up 425 ground balls.

Leading the way for the group was Emily Deering (Hollis, Maine/Bonny Eagle), whose point and goal totals are tops in the program’s thirteen-year history. Deering entered the year with a school-best 101 goals, and added 22 goals in her senior campaign for an impressive tally of 123. She came into the season third in career points, and broke the old record of 119 (Eleni Kacoyianni, ’99) early in the year, finishing with 144 after 29 points this season. Not just a point-scorer, Deering led the Gators in ground balls (61), draw controls (36), and caused turnovers (51). For her efforts she was named the NCAC Defender of the Year, and was listed First-Team All-NCAC for the fourth time.

Ashley Rogerson (Fairport, N.Y.) leaves Allegheny fifth on the all-time points and goals scored lists with 101 and 76, respectively, while also fighting for 134 ground balls during her career. She was named First-Team All-NCAC for the third time at the conclusion of the season.

Anna Gordon (Portland, Maine/Deering), Danie Parsons (Brook Park, Ohio/Magnificat), and Lindsay Vance (East Aurora, N.Y.) round out the seniors. Gordon was the only one of the five seniors to start all of the team’s games during her four years. In 2006, she had a career-high six goals. Parsons spent her first two seasons as a defender. After transitioning to the midfield she picked up 19 goals and an all-league distinction. Vance, a defender in each of her four seasons, collected 64 ground balls in her career.

“These five athletes came here as freshmen determined to turn this program around. Their dedication to winning and desire to be the best helped them to make Allegheny a top lacrosse team in the NCAC,” said Zlotkowski. “Emily, Anna, Danie, Ashley, and Lindsay have been the heart and soul of Allegheny lacrosse for the past four years. We are going to miss them greatly, but feel fortunate that they have laid a great foundation for us to build upon.”

Though the team loses an abundance of talent and leadership with the graduation of the seniors, it returns three juniors and six sophomores. Key players returning from that group include Michelle Dudevoir (West Point, N.Y./O’Neill), Kelly Towns (Pittsburgh/ Mt. Lebanon), Jenna Balogh (Richfield, Ohio/Revere), Laura Hoch (Moon Township/Sewickley Academy), Ashley Hughes (Wexford/North Allegheny), and Lesley Stange (Murrysville/Franklin Regional). As a group, they started all but two games this past year. Hughes made the all-conference first team while Towns made honorable mention, each of them earning All-NCAC status for the second time. Dudevoir and Hoch are new to the All-NCAC list, as both athletes earned honorable mention.

Leading the offensive charge for the group of underclassmen, while also climbing up the record books, is Hughes. The sophomore has picked up a point in each of her 30 games as a collegian, and has now led the team in points in each of her two years. With 47 points this season she now has a total of 87, sixth all-time at Allegheny.

Anchoring the defense was Stange. Having started in goal in all thirty of her team’s games since becoming a Gator, Stange has collected 261 saves, a tally that leaves her just 34 shy of the school record after just two years.

“Coach (Jeremy) Mitchem and I are very proud of what this group of athletes accomplished this year,” said Zlotkowksi. “Having such a small bench could have been an excuse for us to underachieve, but those 17 athletes would settle for nothing less than their very best. They worked hard until the end, and we are very excited for next year. While we will miss the seniors, our rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors are committed to continuing our tradition of success in 2007.”

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