Dec. 8, 2011
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Just two months before the beginning of the 2012 season, the honors have started to roll in for the Notre Dame women’s lacrosse team, as the Irish rank 17th in InsideLacrosse.com’s preseason national poll, while senior attacker Maggie Tamasitis received third-team preaseason All-America honors from the publication.
The Irish, who ended the 2011 season with a 10-9 record and runner-up finish in the BIG EAST Tournament, are among a group of four conference teams ranked. Loyola (Md.), the defending BIG EAST Champion, opens the year 11th, while Georgetown is 12th and Syracuse 14th.
“It’s nice to get recognition as a program due to past success, but we are more interested in working hard as a team and developing throughout this season,” said first year head coach Christine Halfpenny.
Tamasitis enters her senior campaign with 92 career assists, which places her just 14 from tying the school record of 106 set by former Irish standout Gina Scioscia (’10). The Boyertown, Pa., native also is 54 points away from becoming just the fifth Irish player to break the 200-point threshold.
She was just one of 36 players from around the country recognized on the All-American teams, and one of just 12 attackers.
“We are glad Maggie was recognized after she had a breakout junior year,” said Halfpenny. “We are excited to see how she develops this year in her last season with the program.”
Last year Tamasitis was named first team all-BIG EAST, first team Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches’ Association (IWLCA) West/Midwest all-Region and third team All-American by the IWLCA. She became the 14th Irish player to be recognized on the postseason IWLCA All-American squad.
Notre Dame, who will release their 2012 schedule on Friday, open the campaign with an exhibition game against Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Md., on Feb. 11.
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