Feb. 11, 2011
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fifth in an ongoing series on UND.com, spotlighting the 2011 Notre Dame spring sports season with both written and video previews. Today, we take a look at the Fighting Irish women’s lacrosse team, which is coming off its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and fourth in the past five seasons.
The Notre Dame women’s lacrosse team begins its 15th season of play on the Division I level on Feb. 11 when the Irish open the campaign on the road with the University of California Bears in Berkeley, Calif.
After 14 seasons, coach Tracy Coyne’s program has become one of the most consistent programs in the nation. Since 2006, Notre Dame has put together five consecutive winning seasons, going 65-29 (.691) in that span, with a BIG EAST championship (2009), a trip to the NCAA Final Four (2006) and NCAA Tournament appearances in four of the five seasons, including each of the last three years.
Notre Dame was 11-7 in 2010 with a 6-2 record in the BIG EAST, good for a tie for second place. In the BIG EAST Tournament, the Irish played one of the most memorable games in the league’s history, going to four overtimes before falling to Syracuse, 12-11, in the longest game in school and conference history.
A third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament, a first for the program, pitted the Irish on the road at Northwestern where the season ended in a 19-7 loss. They finished the year ranked 12th in the final IWLCA coaches’ poll.
That brings us to the 2011 campaign, one that Coyne and her coaching staff start with guarded optimism. As in any college sport there are changes that occur from year-to-year as players graduate and move on.
In Notre Dame’s case, Coyne not only has to replace three regulars in her playing lineup but also a pair of assistant coaches who have moved on to new positions. Kateri Linville, who ran the Irish defense for five seasons, is now the head coach at her alma mater, the University of Delaware. Meredith Simon Black `04, a three-year assistant, was married in the offseason and moved to California where she is serving as an assistant at Cal this season. She will become the first head coach at Marquette when the Golden Eagles begin their program in 2012.
On the field, the Irish will have to replace All-American attack standout Gina Scioscia, all-BIG EAST defender Rachel Guerrera and valuable midfielder Maggie Zentgraf as all three graduated.
Scioscia finished her career with 222 points and is the only player in school history to have over 100 goals and 100 assists and is fourth on the school’s all-time scoring list. Guerrera was a tough, tenacious defender who started for three seasons on the Notre Dame back line. Zentgraf was a team leader on and off the field and a contributor off the bench in her career.
Finding players to replace those three shouldn’t be difficult for Coyne and her staff that includes new assistants – former Irish women’s lacrosse standout Crysti Foote ’06 and Nick Williams, who joins the Irish after serving as an assistant at Towson in 2010. Kassen Delano `04 returns for her third season as the volunteer assistant coach.
The Irish return a strong, talented senior class to go with a talented group of juniors and sophomores. Add to the mix, a seven-player freshman class that was ranked third in the nation by Inside Lacrosse in the magazine’s fall rankings of incoming freshmen and it’s easy to see why the Irish are excited about the coming year.
“I really think that this team will be better than last year,” says Coyne. “This will be the fastest team that we’ve ever had. We have two great senior leaders and a group of seven seniors who are totally committed to the team and what we are doing. This is the best senior leadership that we’ve had since 2004. It’s a big class and everyone is contributing.”
She continues, “The thing about this group of players is that they have experienced a great deal in their first three years. They know what it means to lose a game in late April and the affect it has on the postseason. We were in control of our own destiny last year and lost that game at Rutgers and it hurt us going into the postseason. Everyone has been to the NCAA Tournament in all three years. They’ve won a BIG EAST championship. They know the value of winning games at the end of April and most importantly they have that intangible of knowing what it takes to win a close game. This group knows what it takes to compete on the national level and be successful.”
As with any team, the first step to success comes in the goal and the Irish have a pretty good one in 5-2 sophomore Ellie Hilling (Rochester, N.Y.) who begins her second season as the team’s top goalkeeper.
|
 |
As a freshman, Hilling started all 18 games, playing all but 2:19 minutes of the season and was 11-7 with a stellar 9.69 goals-against average and a .421 save percentage. In her rookie year, Hilling relied on her quickness and athleticism to make plays. This season, she will be able to add experience to her resume as she learned a great deal in year one. Hilling can be a difference maker for the Irish and continues to improve her all-around game.
Included in Hilling’s rookie season was the first-ever shutout in Notre Dame and BIG EAST history (16-0 versus Villanova on April 9) and a 98:33 minute streak without giving up a goal between April 5 and April 11. In that string, she followed the blanking of Villanova by shutting out Syracuse for the first 30 minutes in a 6-5 upset of the seventh-ranked Orange.
As a freshman, Hilling was the only goalkeeper on the roster. In 2011, sophomore Adele Bruggeman (Cincinnati, Ohio) joins the Irish as her back up. Bruggeman continues to make the transition to the Division I game and was able to get playing time in the fall and will provide a solid backup in goal.
“We are definitely strong in goal with Ellie (Hilling),” says Coyne. “She’s athletic, has quick hands and the ability to read the play and react. Ellie learned a lot as a freshman and that will benefit her this season.”
Hilling will rely on a veteran group on defense in front of her that will be led by returning senior starters Jackie Doherty (Sr., Ellicott City, Md.) and Lauren Fenlon (Dayton, Md.). Joining the senior duo in the defensive rotation will be juniors Kate Newall (Middlesex, England), Jordy Shoemaker (Andover, Mass.) and Kristin DeRespiris (Locust Valley, N.Y.), sophomores Emily Conner (Alexandria, Va.) and Michelle Tremblay (Tonka Bay, Minn.) and freshmen Margaret Smith (Westminster, Md.) and Kristin Cousins (Glen Ridge, N.J.).
In Jackie Doherty, the Irish have one of the top defensive players in the nation. The senior was a first team IWLCA All-American and a first team all-BIG EAST selection in 2010 and is a preseason all-BIG EAST pick this year. A team captain this season along with Shaylyn Blaney, Doherty is a fierce competitor with a tremendous work ethic while being a true team leader. Her all-around skills make her a game-changing player who has the ability to dominate in the defensive zone. As a junior, she led the Irish in ground balls (53) and caused turnovers (40) and was second in draw controls with 30. She even chipped in four goals with one assist in 18 games.
Fenlon joins Doherty to give the Irish one of the top defensive duos in the BIG EAST. A steady, all-around defender, Fenlon will be in the mix for postseason honors due to her tough, steady play game in, game out. She brings a physical presence to the Notre Dame defense and is one of those players that understand what it takes to win. A quiet team leader who leads by example, Fenlon had 27 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers while helping lead the Irish to their lowest goals-against since 2006.
|
|
Kate Newall returns as a starter and brings tremendous speed to the defense. A fierce competitor, she has a tenacious style of play that disrupts opposing players. She continues to improve her entire game and will look to become more involved in the Irish transition game. As a sophomore, Newall had 17 ground balls, grabbed 18 draw controls and had 10 caused turnovers. Offensively, she scored three goals and added an assist while starting all 18 games.
The two returnees who saw the most playing time in 2010 on defense are Conner and Shoemaker. Conner, a sophomore, played in 17 games in her rookie year, making eight starts, while Shoemaker played in 11 games, making three starts in the defensive midfield. Conner will be a key on the Irish back line as she continues to improve her all-around game. A smart player with strong instincts for the game, she has strong stick skills and can play a key role in transition. She had 10 ground balls and six caused turnovers in her rookie year.
Shoemaker also will be in the mix for a starting spot on the Irish defensive unit. A talented athlete who knows the Irish defensive system, she brings versatility to the defense because of her athleticism. A tough, competitive player with good speed and quickness, Shoemaker had four ground balls and four caused turnovers while scoring a pair of goals as a sophomore.
DeRespiris has seen limited action in her first two seasons but is the true definition of a team player. In 2010, with just one goalkeeper on the roster, the Locust Valley, N.Y., native became the backup goalkeeper, working on her goalkeeping skills in practice. She continues to improve her defensive game and pushes teammates in practice. She saw action in two games, including 2:19 minutes of play in goal.
Tremblay was sidelined in her freshman year due to a knee injury suffered in January of 2010, but impressed the coaching staff prior to her season-ending injury. She is an outstanding athlete who plays a physical defensive game. Look for her to work her way into the regular rotation during the season.
A pair of talented freshmen – Cousins and Smith – also will be in the mix for playing time on defense. Cousins brings size (5-11) and athletic ability to the lineup and continues to adapt to the speed of the Division I game. She continues to get comfortable in her role and has the ability to be a top line defender. Smith is recognized as one of the top freshmen in the nation and should play a key role in her first year at Notre Dame. She was ranked seventh by Inside Lacrosse in the magazine’s rankings of the top freshmen for 2011. A highly skilled player with great game instincts, she has the ability to take over a game. During the fall, she also saw playing time at midfield and will give the coaching staff options on the defensive side of the field.
“We’ve worked really hard to make our defensive unit more athletic,” says Coyne. “This group is a seasoned, veteran unit. We’re experienced and have built a strong foundation. I expect the defense to be one of the strengths of this team.” Without question, any scouting report on the Irish will point out the strength and depth of the Notre Dame midfield. This group provides the Irish with speed, skill and athleticism and Notre Dame’s success usually falls on the shoulders of the midfielders.
The Irish return four starters in the midfield with seniors Kailene Abt (Huntington, N.Y.), Shaylyn Blaney (Stony Brook, N.Y.) and Kaitlin Keena (Vienna, Va.) joined by junior Megan Sullivan (Winchester, Mass.). This foursome runs the Notre Dame transition game and has a talented supporting cast behind them.
|
|
Leading the group is sophomore returnee Jenny Granger (East Setauket, N.Y.) who came off the bench in 16 games. Junior Flannery Nangle (Auburn, N.Y.) played in 11 games but will miss the 2011 season after suffering a knee injury in the fall. Sophomores McKenzie Brown (Greenwood Village, Colo.) and Francie Crowell (Seal Beach, Calif.) saw limited playing time as freshmen and will be joined by a talented freshman class that adds four highly skilled players – Kaitlyn Brosco (Shoreham, N.Y.), Molly Shawhan (Fulton, Md.), Lindsay Powell (Honeoye Falls, N.Y.) and Grace Dooley (Chicago, Ill.) – to the group.
Blaney is the most decorated member of the midfield as she is a two-time IWLCA second team All-American and has been selected all-BIG EAST in each of her first three seasons. A two-year captain of the Irish, Blaney is one of three Notre Dame players selected to the 2011 preseason all-BIG EAST team. Recognized as one of the top midfielders in the nation, Blaney’s game is played at both ends of the field. As a junior, she scored 40 goals and had three assists to finish third in scoring but she also contributed defensively, leading the team with 37 draw controls while being third in ground balls (36) and second in caused turnovers (36). She is always around the action and will be counted on to pace the Notre Dame transition game.
Senior teammate and fellow Long Islander, Kailene Abt is the third team member to garner preseason all-BIG EAST honors going into the 2011 campaign. The talented midfield/attack player was a second team all-BIG EAST choice and IWLCA all-West/Midwest region selection as a junior. Abt brings size (5-11) and tremendous athletic ability to her spot in the lineup and has the ability to be a dominating force on the field. A year ago, she was fourth in scoring with 29 goals and 10 assists for 39 points. Like Blaney, she contributes at both ends of the field as she had 23 ground balls, 29 draw controls and forced 19 turnovers.
While Blaney and Abt are fast, the third senior member of the group – Kaitlin Keena – is probably the fastest returnee in the Notre Dame lineup. Her quickness and stick skills make her a key member of the Irish transition game. While her offensive numbers were down in 2010 (4 goals and eight assists), she still had a strong all-around game with 16 ground balls, 18 draw controls and five caused turnovers. In her role, Keena does many of the little things that make a team successful but don’t show up on the score sheet.
Joining the three seniors is Megan Sullivan who took over a starting role last season. Her speed and quickness make her an asset in transition and as her confidence grew, so did her all-around game. A talented defensive player, Sullivan’s offensive skills blossomed as she had 16 goals and six assists while she adding 21 ground balls, 12 draw controls and 10 caused turnovers. A leader on the field, she is quickly becoming an outstanding midfielder for Coyne’s squad.
Look for Jenny Granger to have a big impact on the Irish offensive attack this season. She is coming off a great fall and has all the tools to be a dominant midfield/attack player at Notre Dame. Another in a long line of talented players from Long Island to play for Coyne and the Irish, Granger came off the bench as a freshman and contributed 12 goals and three assists for 15 points to the attack. She is poised to be a key contributor this year and will add skill and speed to the lineup.
|
|
Brown and Crowell are recovering from injuries that slowed them as freshmen and limited each of them to just two games. Brown had a great fall and has bounced back from leg injuries. A high school All-American, she has a good scoring touch and will be working to gain playing time this spring. Crowell is coming back from an ankle injury and continues to work hard to improve her game.
The one word that comes to mind when talking about the four freshmen additions in the midfield is speed, speed and more speed. Look for this group of players to work their way into the rotation at midfield and midfield/attack.
Kaitlyn Brosco adjusted quickly during the fall and should see playing time early for the Irish. A fierce competitor with blazing speed, Brosco can set up plays or score at any time. A three-time high school All-American, she scored 320 points in her high school career at Shoreham Wading River, leading her team to three New York state championships. She was ranked as the third among freshmen by Inside Lacrosse magazine in its fall recruiting rankings.
Shawhan is a true midfielder who only plays at one speed – fast. A fierce competitor, she makes things happen on the field. She has excellent stick skills and knows what it takes to win. She was named to the Inside Lacrosse “Watch List” for incoming freshmen making their debuts in 2011.
Powell has outstanding speed and quickness and continues to adapt to the Division I game. She was a high school All-American after scoring 62 goals with 26 assists in her senior year. An intense, hard-working player with an excellent shot, she will look to break into the rotation to earn playing time and gain experience.
Dooley rounds out the group of talented midfielders and was ranked 23rd by Inside Lacrosse magazine in its fall recruiting rankings. An outstanding player on the draw, she had 110 draw controls in her senior year of high school to go with 150 goals and 85 assists. The Chicago native is tall and fast and should become an impact player at Notre Dame during her collegiate career.
“This is a pretty experienced group of players,” says Coyne. “I love our depth and talent at midfield. I believe that our scoring will be spread out this season and we won’t count on one or two players. Someone will rise to the top but I like it when the scoring is spread out. That will start with this group of players.”
On attack, the Irish have to replace first team all-BIG EAST standout Gina Scioscia who has graduated after accounting for 222 points in her career while finishing last season with the second longest scoring streak (37 games) in Irish history.
The three top returnees on attack include senior Ansley Stewart (Alexandria, Va.), junior Maggie Tamasitis (Boyertown, Pa.) and sophomore Betsy Mastropieri (Richmond, Va.). Stewart and Tamasitis were starters while Mastropieri was the top attack player off the bench.
Behind them on attack are senior Meredith Locasto (Pittsburgh, Pa.), junior Kelly Driscoll (Andover, Mass.) sophomore Jaimie Morrison (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) and freshmen Julia Giorgio (Greenwich, Conn.) and Lauren Sullivan (Winchester, Mass.).
Stewart returns for her third season as a starter on attack and will look to have a big season in her final year. As a junior she was fifth on the team in scoring with 19 goals and seven assists for 26 points. As the veteran leader of the offense, Stewart is the quarterback in transition and organizes the attack. She has become a better shooter and will look to pick up some of Scioscia’s offense, especially when it comes to scoring goals. The hard-working senior has done it in the past as she put up a 30-goal campaign in her sophomore year.
|
|
The heir apparent to Scioscia as the quarterback of the offense is Tamasitis who had a career year in 2010 as she finished second in scoring with career highs in goals (18), assists (26) and points (44). The talented playmaker already has 46 assists in her first two seasons and is an outstanding feeder from behind the cage. She doesn’t get flustered and learned a great deal from Scioscia in her first two seasons when it comes to running the offense. Tamasitis will look to pick up some of the scoring and has shown the ability to go to the cage as evidenced by her 18 goals a year ago.
Mastropieri came off the bench as a freshman, playing in 15 games, and showed the ability to put the ball in the net as she scored seven goals in limited playing time. She continues to develop her game and is one of the best on the team when it comes to moving without the ball. She has great anticipation and the ability to catch in tight spaces with a great shot and could become a key member of the attack.
Locasto has seen limited time in her first three seasons but is a valued member of the senior class due to her outstanding leadership skills. An outstanding student who finished her undergraduate work in three years and is already in graduate school, Locasto knows her role and has done a great job in helping her younger teammates adapt to playing at Notre Dame. When she does get to play, she has produced since she has excellent stick and shooting skills.
Driscoll is in her second season on attack after playing defense as a freshman and is a great team player. A hard worker with a point guard mentality she understands the offense and has shown the ability to find the open man on the attack. She saw action in four games a sophomore, scoring one goal. A fierce competitor, Driscoll will look to see more playing time coming off the bench for the Irish.
Morrison could be a one of those diamonds in the rough that Coyne always seems to find. A high school All-American, she may be the most natural shooter on the team and has shown excellent instincts when she gets on the field. Morrison has shown the ability to work inside and has good dodge moves that help her open shooting lanes. She continues to gain confidence in her skills and could have an impact on the attack this season with her shooting ability.
A pair of freshmen joins the team this year and one will use her freshman season to develop while the second uses it to recover from a knee injury. Giorgio is a hard-working rookie who continues to develop her all-around game in her first season. Sullivan, the younger sister of midfielder Megan Sullivan, showed promise in the fall of being a freshman that could work their way into the lineup as she showed good instincts with a physical style of play in front of the goal. She will have to wait for the chance as she suffered a knee injury in January that will sideline her until the 2012 season.
The 2011 schedule should be a strong test for the Irish. Three teams in the BIG EAST are ranked in the IWLCA coaches’ preseason poll – No. 5 Syracuse, No. 8 Georgetown and No. 12 Loyola (Md.) – with Rutgers receiving votes as part of the eight-game league schedule. An ambitious non-league schedule features second-ranked Northwestern, No. 11 Vanderbilt, No. 13 Stanford, No. 18 Boston University and No. 20 Hofstra to give the Irish eight ranked teams on the schedule. The Irish also will face traditional opponents that include Ohio State, Cornell, Duquesne and California.
“Our goal is to vie for a BIG EAST title and make a long run in the NCAA Tournament,” says Coyne. “We know there will be challenges along the way because we play some of the top teams in the country. Our combination of dynamic youth and experienced veterans gives us a perfect blend of talent to compete against the nation’s top teams. As usual, the BIG EAST with provide us with our toughest competition and we look forward to facing our traditional rivals.”
“We can’t wait for the season to begin,” adds the 15th year head coach of the Irish.
— ND —