Rollins Women's Lacrosse 2010 Season Preview
from press releases
WINTER PARK, Fla. - Making a Statement:
After an epic 12-3 season in 2009 that saw them ranked tenth in the
nation for three straight weeks, the 2010 Rollins women's lacrosse
team takes to the turf on Saturday, February 13, with plenty of
high expectations to meet in their third season. With a large
group of returning veterans, as well as some fresh faces with
plenty of talent, the Tars look to make an even bigger statement
than they did last year.
2009 saw plenty of action and program firsts as the Tars ran
through their second season with a 12-3 record, earning the
program's first ever NCAA Division II top ten ranking, producing
the program's first All-American, and falling just short of the
program's first berth into the NCAA Division II Playoffs. Led
by a group of grizzled but young veterans and supported by
energetic newcomers, the women used a core group of talent and a
short line of dexterous reserves to take things to the next level
and burst onto the upper tier lacrosse scene.
Head coach Dennis Short leads the Tars yet again, having produced a
strong group of solid, unyielding players in the program's short
stint. With two solid recruiting classes, and a roster that
provides depth both in talent and experience, Short is confident
that despite the success his team had last season, 2010 is truly
the year for Rollins to make a statement in the lacrosse
community.
"Our goal at practice is to continue to improve every day," Short
explains. "If we persistently get better every day like we
have been doing during preseason, we could easily be in the top ten
and make the playoffs this year. That is definitely not an easy
task. But at the rate we're improving, and with the talent we have
brought in, it's not difficult to progress each and every day to
put us at the level we want to be at towards the end of the
season."
Short reiterates that it's not a feeling of overconfidence or
arrogance when it comes to those specific goals, pointing out,
"It's more a question of what we're capable of when we push
ourselves."
With returning players like Marissa Giannerini, Katy Tyszko, and
Liz Connelly heading up the Tars' attack this season, it's not
difficult to imagine them achieving those goals, either. The
trio posted 180 points last season, with Giannerini notching a
program high 58 goals, and Connelly and Tyszko swapping favors with
59 points apiece as Connelly notched 35 goals, 24 assists, and
Tyszko tallied 24 goals, 35 assists. Their powerhouse play
around the cage will be key to the Tars' success again this
season. Joining the trio on attack will be veteran Mallory
Surpless, along with key newcomer Sarah Ann Showell, who has a very
bright future with the Tars.
The midfield will be headed-up by a key player who often does not
get the credit she deserves. Sophomore Tori Snow will be
expected to take control of the midfield and utilize her speed,
dexterity, and amazing ground ball pickups to help the Tars move
the ball down field in transitions. Snow nabbed a team-high
60 ground balls in 2009, and will be anticipated to do the same
this season.
Joining Snow as key members of the midfield will be veteran Steph
Wiedenhofer, and newcomers Sophie Townsend, Anna Townsend, and
Erica Pagliarulo. Sophie Townsend and Pagliarulo will be
especially dangerous on attack, and are expected to utilize their
skills around the arc to the team's advantage.
The entire midfield group has great speed, agility, and game sense,
and will be expected to join the attack as threats around the
twelve meter. Freshmen Tricia Grant and Keira Curling will also be
key members of the midfield unit, providing depth and speed to an
already stacked roster.
Defensively, the Tars will be headed up by returning members Laura
Wilkin, Gabi Lombardi, and Suzanne Gainey. Each one has
worked incredibly hard in the off season to build upon their
already stellar skills on defense as well as in the midfield
transition, and Coach Short is eager to see what they can do
against tough opponents in the following weeks.
Moving back from offense to the defensive midfield crew will be
Lacy Goodwyn, who returns to the role she held in her first season
with the Tars. Newcomer Anne Koeblitz joins the defense in
her freshman season, and has impressed the coaches with her hard
work and dedication.
Sophomore Alyssa Emens will take on the roll of starting goalie
after playing midfield for Rollins in 2009. Short and the
rest of the coaches have been impressed with Emens' quick
development between the pipes, and are excited to see her progress
throughout the season. Fellow sophomore Cat Kelley, who is
returning from injury, will also be expected to spend some time in
cage as well as the midfield after a successful freshman season
posting 10 goals and notching an assist. Backing up both
Emens and Kelley in cage will be Liz Connelly, who has trained hard
for the position as well.
Short has set a demanding, but exciting, schedule for the Tars'
third season. Playing five of the top ten preseason favorites
this season, and matching up with some sleeper squads, means the
Tars will have some tough matchups ahead of them, but Short
wouldn't have it any other way. "If we could play every top
ten team this season, we would," Short explains. "But we can't get
every single top ten team on the schedule. We're not shying
away from teams. If we want to be the best, we have to play
the best. We're taking on some tough talent with Adelphi,
Stonehill, New Haven, Limestone, and West Chester, as well as some
underrated teams like Pfeiffer who will be ones to watch throughout
the season. And with more in-region games this season, we're
confident that we'll be in the top if we continue to focus and stay
healthy."
Rollins opens their season on Saturday, February 13, in a home
contest against St. Andrews Presbyterian College. The Tars
currently own the series against the Fighting Knights 2-0, after an
amazing 18-17 double-overtime victory in 2008, and a 16-14 victory
in 2009. Rollins hosts SAPC for the first time in program
history, and looks to open their third year on a high note with yet
another success over the Fighting Knights.
After their season opener, the team immediately focuses on one of
their biggest games of the season when they take on 2009 National
Champion and preseason favorite Adelphi on February 19. A
scrimmage against St. John Fisher College breaks up the regular
season action before the Tars host Notre Dame College and
Millersville University on March 4 and 8, respectively.
After that, Rollins heads into a stretch of demanding contests that
could possibly hold national standing implications. The Tars
take on preseason No. 9 Stonehill, No. 8 New Haven, and close out
their home game stretch against Pfeiffer University, who will be a
dangerous opponent this season as well.
The Tars hit the road following their home stint, and kick off
their time on the road with a trip to Charlotte, N.C. to take on
Queens University of Charlotte before flying up to play preseason
No. 6 West Chester on March 28.
Rollins will take on Converse and Lees McRae on Converse's turf in
Spartanburg, S.C., to kick off the month of April before flying out
west to take on Regis and Fort Lewis College on the campus of Regis
University in Denver on April 16 and 17.
The Tars' final contest will be a road trip back to South Carolina
as they travel to preseason No.4 Limestone in the ultimate end of
season regional showdown. Last year, Rollins gave
then-third-ranked Limestone a run for their money on the Saints'
home turf in Gaffney, S.C. on April 24, 2009. The Tars will
look to have another successful run against the Saints this season,
and will close out their regular season slate when they match up
with them on May 1.
Despite a glorious season in 2009, the Rollins women's lacrosse
team can only climb the ladder of success in their 2010
campaign. With a schedule that offers a wide range of
demanding and exciting competition, and a team that has depth in
skills, age, and power, the Tars' third season looks to be
exhilarating and challenging at the same time.
"We did a great job last year and really surprised some people; you
could say we over achieved with last season's 12-3 record," Short
concludes. "But I believe this year is the year that we can
truly make a statement."
