Women’s College Lacrosse Preview

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

GoLocalWorcester Sports Team

Kelsey Daniels, Nichols

The women’s lacrosse teams of Central Massachusetts are largely in rebuilding mode at the moment, but there does seem to be hope in the near future. Holy Cross returns a large amount of talent and experience, making a top half finish in the Patriot League a realistic possibility, while Assumption is hoping to build off a 2011 campaign that saw them add five wins from the previous season. Nichols is still in the bottom half of its league, but did qualify for the postseason tournament, and has been steadily improving since the program hit bottom in 2009 with a winless conference season.

Holy Cross College has the pieces

Despite a 6-11 record last season, Holy Cross coach Stephanie Rodolfi is optimistic. The Crusaders again finished with a losing record, but the coach is encouraged that many of their games were within three goals, and they scored several impressive victories down the stretch.

“I think this is a very determined team,” Rodolfi said. “Being that last year we had some close games and didn’t come out on the winning end of them. We just need to put it in the back of the net. Our shooting wasn’t where it needed to be, and we’re working on that.”

Holy Cross returns seven starters, but it will also look to talented sophomores Sara Hennessey (Winchester, MA) and Corrine Caracausa (North Wales, PA) to add a boost to returning players with experience. If the Crusaders can improve their shooting, Rodolfi sees no reason why they cannot win tight games and contend for a Patriot League championship.

2011 Overview: 6-11, 3-3 Patriot League
Returning Point Leaders:
Kat Sutton, Sr. Attacker, Saratoga Springs, NY
35 goals, 9 assists
Taylor Zebrowski, Jr. Attacker, Verona, NJ
21 goals, 8 assists
Maddie Carrellas, Jr. Midfielder, Middletown, RI
21 goals, 2 assists

Assumption College trending upward

Assumptio n went from a two-win team to a seven-win team in one season, and it did so with two explosive sophomores leading the team in scoring. Now juniors, Michelle Santos (Holliston, MA) and Steph O’Rourke (Amherst, NH) again look to carry the load for an ever-improving Greyhound squad. Despite lacking the athleticism of elite teams, Assumption showed it could win the close ones. The Greyhounds won their final two road games each by only a goal, and their final game of the season was a double overtime 12-11 victory at league foe Franklin Pierce University.

2011 Overview: 7-8, 5-7 Northeast 10
Returning Point Leaders:
Michelle Santos, Jr. Attacker, Holliston, MA
30 goals, 4 assists
Steph O’Rourke, Jr. Midfielder, Amherst, NH
29 goals, 3 assists
Caitlin White, Jr. Midfielder, Bethany, CT
14 goals, 2 assists

Kat Sutton, Holy Cross

Nichols College must reduce mistakes

Nichols is another team that is improving, but cannot afford to beat itself. The Bison averaged nearly 22 turnovers a game, leading directly to them giving up 307 shots on the season, the most in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. This makes senior goaltender Danielle Mott’s (Cranston, RI) 46% save percentage very impressive, all things considered, but her teammates need to help her out by not allowing so many transition opportunities for the opposition. Leading scorer senior Krista-Jean Forand (Plymouth, MA) returns after a huge junior season, and it will be on her and the rest of the attackers to cut down on the turnovers.

2011 Overview:
Returning Point Leaders:
Krista-Jean Forand, Sr. Attacker, Plymouth, MA
46 goals, 20 assists
Toni Minelli, So. Attacker, Newington, CT
30 goals, 5 assists
Melanie Chhouy, So. Attacker, Pepperell, MA
24 goals, 9 assists