http://www.allegheny.edu
2008 Lacrosse Season Preview
March 6, 2008
MEADVILLE, Pa. - With three 20+ goal scorers, two All-North Coast Athletic Conference selections and some of the team’s top defenders returning, things look to be on the upswing for new Allegheny head lacrosse coach Paula Habel, who looks to improve on last years’ 4-9 record.
Back on the attack for Allegheny is three-time All-NCAC First Team selection Ashley Hughes (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny), who led the team last year with 29 goals and 12 assists, moving into sole possession of the school’s career assist mark, and is within striking distance of becoming the school’s all-time leading point scorer. In addition to her scoring prowess, the senior picked up a team-best 33 draw controls while also causing a dozen turnovers (second on the squad). Hughes had seven hat tricks or better in the team’s 13 games, including scoring five goals twice and ending the season with 3,4 and 3 goals in the final three games, respectively.
Adding depth to the attack is sophomore Christina Zanic (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair), who finished third on the team a season ago with 24 goals and four assists. Zanic scored in 12 of the team’s 13 games a season ago, picking up three hat tricks including a five-goal effort in a 17-13 victory over Oberlin College.
The Gators return a veteran squad in the middle, with nine players who received playing time returning, including honorable mention All-NCAC selection Meg Grossman (Lexington, Ky./Sayre School), who finished second last year with 29 ground balls and 29 draw controls while adding 16 goals and seven assists. She was also one of five players on the squad to record double figure caused turnovers for the season. Also returning is 2006 All-NCAC selection Laura Hoch (Moon Township, Pa./Sewickley Academy), who scored 21 goals and dished out six assists for 27 total points.
Lana Cannon (Peaks Island, Maine/Portland) also returns after starting all 13 games and scoring nine goals. Jenna Balogh (Richfield, Ohio/Revere) and Cailin Harvey (Rochester, N.Y./Irondquoit) also return after starting 13 and 12 games a season ago. Looking to add depth to the position are sophomores Elissa Gordon (Portland, Maine/Deering), Rina Marinzel (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel), Leslie Robertson (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park River Forest), and Emily Hoar (New London, N.H./Kimball Union Academy).
Defensively the Gators return four players with significant starting experience, including senior Kate Damico (Lompoc, Calif./Cabrillo), juniors Katie Murphy (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) and Erin Foster (Waterloo, N.Y./Waterloo), and sophomore Kaitlan Biondi (Brewster, N.Y./Brewster). Foster picked up a team-best 32 ground balls a season ago, starting all 13 games with Damico (pictured right) starting eight contests, picking up 10 ground balls and forcing eight turnovers.
Murphy, who doubles as a midfielder on the women’s soccer team in the fall, started all 13 games, dishing out a pair of assists while also picking up 23 ground balls and forcing nine turnovers. Biondi started seven games in 2007, causing 11 turnovers and grabbing 18 groundballs. Adding depth for the squad is sophomore Anna Dixon (Coopersburgh, Pa./Perkiomen).
At goal the team returns two players with starting experience, senior Lesley Stange (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) and sophomore Rachel Coons (Latham, N.Y./Shaker). Each won two games in goal a season ago, with Stange becoming the winningest lacrosse goalkeeper in the process, as she now has 19 wins in goal for her career, two more than Beth McLaughlin’s total of 17 from 2002-2004. The pair’s statistics were very similar through the season, Stange holding a slightly better goals against average (14.99-to-15.98) with Coons leading in save percentage (.387-to-.385).
The Gators open the 2008 season on March 8 against Buffalo State at the University of Buffalo and will also travel to R.I.T on the 13th. The Gators then battle Bridgewater State (March 17) and FDU-Florham (March 19) on the team’s spring trip in West Palm Beach, Fla. before returning to Meadville for three straight home contests against Notre Dame (Ohio), Ohio Wesleyan, and Washington & Jefferson at the end of March and beginning of April.