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women's lacrosse
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2008 outlook
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2008 Outlook
Gannon Reloads
Following Loss of
Five Starters; Looks to Blend
Freshmen with Returning Experience
If you ask a collegiate coach
about the toughest part of their job, they could give a million different
answers. However, one answer that would routinely be at the top is the task
of keeping continuity within the team as players rotate in and out every
four years.
That will be one of the toughest tasks for sixth-year head coach Steve Wagner
as his team approaches the 2008 campaign. Last year, Gannon headed into the
season with 14 returning letterwinners and its entire starting lineup intact.
This year, the Lady Knights must find a way to replace five starters. The
losses include the top two leading scorers in Joanna Culkin and Shannon Pagano,
and the top defender in Joanne Heintz.
However, don’t ever confuse trying to transition new players with the word
“rebuilding” at Gannon. “This is not a rebuilding year,” said Wagner. “It
might be a year when we are learning more than in past years, but we are not
rebuilding. Our team still has quite a bit of experience. It’s just mixed
in with a lot of inexperience.
“We have talent on this team and I want this season to be productive. It’s
not a rebuilding year. We just have a new team that we have to win matches
with.”
One of the main reasons Wagner feels the program can stay at the same high
level of play is the team’s unity. “I think that is one of our main strengths,”
he noted. “We don’t play as individuals. Our strength lays in the players
themselves, how positive they are, and how hard they work for each other.”
It’s also been one of the main reasons Gannon has been successful every
year during Wagner’s tenure. The Lady Knights have increased their victory
total every year under Wagner, including a 12-4 record in 2007. The squad
also owns four consecutive victories over cross-town rival Mercyhurst.
“Our team has a different feel to it than any other team I’ve coached,”
said Wagner. “We have an immense pride in being the Lady Knights and building
on the program’s tradition.
“The greatest thing about our team is how we go about our business. We play
clean, well, and as a team. If you ask me what I’m most proud of over the
last six years, I would say that we have created a lacrosse environment that
is perfect for the student-athletes who want to play for us. Our success is
born out of that.”
The 2008 season will be no different. The Lady Knights have already been
forced to invite numerous walk-ons to the team after departures and injuries.
“It’s a perfect example because there have been no problems,” said Wagner.
“There is no petty competition and in-house fighting about who is doing what.
The team simply wants to know what it has to do to fix a problem and be the
best it can be.
“Hopefully, my legacy is that we have players in this program who take pride
in it and care about it. I think all of our success has been rooted in that
philosophy.”
Attackers
Gannon will have a few new
faces up front in 2008. Gone are starters Joanna Culkin and Abbey Lighton
from last year’s team. The main concern will be replacing Culkin’s passing
and scoring ability. Culkin finished her career fourth all-time at Gannon
in points (251) and assists (133).
Sarah Belen returns with the most experience, starting 42 matches during
her three-year career. The senior played in 15 matches last season, starting
12. She recorded 12 goals, three assists, and 15 points. Her best campaign
came in 2006 when she netted 42 goals in 17 starts.
Kayla Nelson and Dana Rousseau also bring experience to the table. Nelson
saw action in 12 matches as a true freshman last season, getting the starting
nod six times. She responded with seven goals and eight assists.
Rousseau has started 16 matches during her first two seasons at Gannon,
but was limited to four starts last season. The junior has recorded 12 goals,
seven assists, and 19 points in two seasons.
Freshmen Christina Blasi and Molly San Jule will be the newcomers competing
for playing time as attackers. Blasi earned All-WPIAL and All-Section honors
as a four-year letterwinner at Seton-LaSalle High School. San Jule received
all-league first-team accolades at Cortland High School.
Midfielders
The midfield lost two of
Gannon’s best all-time players with the graduation of Shannon Pagano and
a season-ending injury to junior Krista Schunk during the preseason, but
it also features some very talented returnees.
Junior Colleen Dixon and sophomore Taryn Millerd are the most explosive
returners. Dixon has been a steady force for the Lady Knights during her
first two seasons and will be expected to assume more responsibilities in
2008. She posted 25 goals in each of her first two seasons.
“Dixon has matured into a goal scorer,” said Wagner. “We expect her to move
from a support player to one of our big guns.”
Millerd was an IWLCA All-South Region second-team selection last season
as a true freshman. She burst onto the collegiate scene with 33 goals, 15
assists, and 48 points.
“Millerd will be a field general,” said Wagner. “In addition to handling
the ball a lot in our offense, she will be asked to be a feeder and goal scorer.”
Antonia Cianfrocco, a third returner, will be asked to step into a predominant
role during her second season at Gannon. The sophomore played in every match
last season, but scored only four goals in limited scoring opportunities.
Freshman Mary Eshenour and senior Carla Jemison both come to Gannon with
the ability to play right away. Eshenour was an All-American as a senior
at Waterloo High School. Jemison is a transfer from St. John Fisher College.
Defense
As is the case with the attackers
and midfielders, Gannon has one major piece of the puzzle missing on defense
with the graduation of All-American Joanne Heintz. However, as is the case
at the other positions, Gannon has a solid group of returners ready to step
in and take over.
There won’t be much depth available with only five defenders on the roster,
but the four projected starters have the ability to form a solid defensive
core.
Christina Alexander will anchor the defense after making 15 starts last
season. The junior has started 32 games during her two-year career. “Alexander
is a tenacious defender,” noted Wagner. “She will usually be the defender
we use to lock down the opponent’s best attacker.”
Juniors Molly Meagher and Heidi Lott are expected to move from the midfield
to defense. Meagher has played in the midfield for two seasons, but saw limited
time last season due to an injury. Lott started 15 games in the middle last
year and has 12 career goals.
McMinn is another returner projected to start. A fourth junior in the back,
McMinn was a starter as a true freshman in 2006. Walk-on Rebecca Boylan will
provide Gannon defenders with their only relief off the bench.
Goalkeepers
The goalkeeping position
wasn’t expected to be a problem heading into the preseason until returning
starter Acacia Cook was sidelined with an injury during the preseason. She
ranked fourth nationally last season in save percentage (.539) and goals
against average (7.73).
If she is unable to play, Shauna Hutchinson will be Gannon’s starter between
the posts. Hutchinson was a two-time all-county selection at East Islip (N.Y.)
High School.
Gannon UniversityUniversity Square ~ Erie, PA 16541-0001
Toll
Free: 1-800-GANNON-U
Sports Press Box E-mail
updated
3/25/08 by: drt
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