Season Preview (WD2): Preseason Top 10 Outlook
by Mark Macyk | LaxMagazine.com
|
| Erica Devito and Adelphi figure
to battle with Le Moyne at the top of NCAA Division II this
year. © Lee Weissman |
1. Le Moyne
2011 Record: 18-3 (11-1 Northeast-10)
Key Player: Senior attacker Brittany Brigandi led
Division II with 87 goals in 2011 and added 19 assists.
X-Factor: Sophomore midfielder Jen Fabian should
make an impact on young midfield after missing 2011 with
injury.
2. Adelphi
2011 Record: 20-0 (12-0 Northeast-10)
Key Player: Senior attacker Erica Devito is a
three-time All-American and Adelphi's top returning scorer, ranking
third in Division II with 77 goals in 2011.
X-Factor: New head coach and former Adelphi men's
lacrosse player Rob Grella takes over a team that won three
consecutive NCAA titles but lost several key players.
3. C.W. Post
2011 Record: 13-4 (7-1 ECC)
Key Player: Junior attacker/midfielder Ashley
Olen, the Pioneers' top scorer in 2010, returns after missing all
of 2011 with an ACL injury.
X-Factor: The defense. Senior Chelsea Donaldson
and junior Aimee Capps lead a deep unit, which ranked among the top
10 in Division II in goals allowed in 2011.
4. Dowling
2011 Record: 15-3 (8-0 ECC)
Key Player: Senior attacker Brooke Witkowski is
the top returning scorer in Division II after setting program
records with 78 assists and 110 points in 2011.
X-Factor: Junior attacker Nicolle Moran, who
transferred from Division I Stony Brook prior to the 2011 season,
led Dowling with 54 goals.
5. Limestone
2011 Record: 18-2 (7-0 Conference
Carolinas)
Key Player: Senior attacker Racquel Prager, the
reigning Conference Carolinas Player of the Year, scored 60 goals
in 2011, second-most in program history.
X-Factor: Brains and balance. Limestone had the
second-highest team GPA in all of Division II (3.30) in 2011.
6. West Chester
2011 Record: 16-5 (11-0 PSAC)
Key Player: Local product and junior attacker
Tori Dugan is the Rams' top returning scorer (46 goals), but she
has an even bigger presence on draw controls (46) and ground balls
(40).
X-Factor: Experience. The only South region team
to ever capture a national championship is in the postseason
discussion every year.
7. Lock Haven
2011 Record: 16-3 (10-1 PSAC)
Key Player: Sophomore midfielder Jessica Pandolf
(37g, 67 DCs) is a two-way force whose speed allows her to take
chances on the defensive end.
X-Factor: Depth. With a much larger roster this
year, Lock Haven will have plenty of chances to rotate in more
talent and fresh legs.
8. Stonehill
2011 Record: 15-4 (10-2 Northeast-10)
Key Player: Senior attacker Sam Lynott led the
Skyhawks with 59 goals, 82 points and 50 draw controls in 2011.
X-Factor: Defense. Stonehill ranked sixth
nationally in scoring defense (7.89 goals allowed per game), but
graduated most of the key players in that unit.
9. Rollins
2011 Record: 13-4 (Independent)
Key Player: Sophomore goalkeeper Elyse DeLisle
(8.87 GAA), a steady presence between the pipes, gives Rollins'
other players freedom and confidence to take risks.
X-Factor: Location. Playing in Florida draws top
teams for non-league games that will be crucial for gaining an NCAA
tournament bid.
10. New Haven
2011 Record: 10-8 (8-4 Northeast-10)
Key Player: Fifth-year senior midfielder Ashley
Ferrandiz (23g, 21a) provides experience, versatility and superb
field vision.
X-Factor: Experience. The Chargers return 11
starters, including their leading scorer in senior attacker Alexis
Gabbe (74g, 14a) and their defensive leader in senior midfielder
Aubrey Duncan.
This article appears in the February issue
of Lacrosse Magazine, the flagship publication of US Lacrosse.
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