Women's Lacrosse Ranked Fourth In Pre-Season National Polls, Chieftains Begin 2005 Slate Sunday Afternoon Against Lees-McRae

March 3, 2005

For the past six years, the Stonehill College women’s lacrosse team has been making sweet music on the field.

Since the inception of Northeast-10 Conference women’s lacrosse in 1999, Stonehill has captured every regular season title, five conference tournament titles, and is 51-1 all-time in Northeast-10 play. Nationally, the Chieftains have climbed the scale from a 2001 NCAA semi-finalist, to the 2002 NCAA runner-up, to the 2003 NCAA championship. The team has also had some incredible solo performances: 17 All-America selections, three National Player of the Year selections, and three Northeast-10 Player of the Year selections. After growing accustomed to competing for a national title year after year, last spring hit a sour note as the Chieftains failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament to defend their title. But the show must go on…

Head Coach Michael Daly, who has served as the conductor on the Chieftains’ ascent to national prominence, has worked hard throughout the off-season preparing a team he believes could be his best ever. To help guide this squad, Daly has orchestrated a solid leadership core in senior tri-captains Colette Carpenter (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa), Colby Confer (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand) and Brenna Newfell (Billerica, Mass./Billerica). Says Daly; “My captains are great role models; on the field, during the off-season and in the classroom. They are a thrill to work with and they make coaching this team more fun.”

With all of the right instruments in place, the 2005 Stonehill College women’s lacrosse team plans to come out playing in perfect harmony. Here’s a look at how things should play out for Stonehill:

ATTACK. The high-powered Stonehill attack figures to pick up right where it left off, as the returnees boast 245 collective goals to their credit a season ago. Confer, with 132 career goals, will lead the attack unit with her transition speed and shooting accuracy alongside junior Jenny McGrath (Milton, Mass./Milton), another elite attacker who scored 33 goals and assisted on 24 last spring. Sophomore Tracey Hoffman (Nashua, N.H./Nashua) missed a portion of her freshman season due to injury, but has developed the stick skills and game knowledge to emerge this spring as a top attacker and midfielder. Senior Courtney Duggan (Billerica, Mass./Billerica) has an incredibly powerful shot and will again be a key attacker for the Chieftains’ after scoring 31 goals a year ago, while junior Stephanie Dane (Branford, Conn./Branford) is a great feeder and dodger who will play a greater role this season in the potent Stonehill attack. Freshman Christa LaRocco (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) is a talented newcomer who will compete for playing time this spring at the high attack position.

MIDFIELD. The Chieftains plan to show their versatility with a talented group of midfielders that excel both on offense and defense. The top Chieftain midfielder will be two-time first-team all-America selection and Northeast-10 Player of the Year junior Erin Acone (Bow, N.H./Bow) who led the team with 52 goals scored and 16 assists as a sophomore. Acone will be one of Stonehill’s go-to players in clutch situations, as she not only finishes well, but she is also a talented one-on-one defender and excels on midfield draws for the team. Carpenter is another complete player whose presence is felt all over the field, as she netted 41 goals last spring and also wins most of the draws in the midfield. Newfell is one of the team’s top shooters and an aggressive player whose tremendous work ethic helped her net 35 goals in 2004. Sophomore Emily Wetmore (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) played a limited role last spring for the Chieftains, but returns greatly improved after a summer spent playing overseas and will compete for playing time in both the midfield and attack. Another highly touted recruit, freshman Kristin Darrell (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) excels all over the field with outstanding stick skills and quickness that will help her make an instant impact in the Chieftain midfield.

DEFENSE. Junior Kate Sarkissian (Sandwich, Mass./Sandwich) is the reigning Northeast-10 and Division II IWLCA National Defensive Player of the Year, and will anchor the Chieftain defense once again. Sarkissian will play alongside senior Meaghan Carey (Hingham, Mass./Hingham) whose hard work in the off-season has helped make her another one of the nation’s top defenders. This talented duo will have a great supporting cast, including junior Jill Dudra (East Brunswick, N.J./East Brunswick) who is one of the team’s top athletes and a consummate team player. Sophomore Maura Cassell (Concord, N.H./Concord) will be a quality line defender for the Chieftains after a strong rookie season and a summer spent playing abroad. Coach Daly is also happy to welcome a strong defensive class, led by freshman Katie Gavin (Westwood, Mass./Westwood), whose incredible fall season has proven that she is ready to make an immediate impact on the team and league. Fellow freshmen Jenn Collins (Nashua, N.H./Nashua), Adriana Maldanado (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) and Julia Coppinger (Melville, N.Y./St. Anthony’s) have also proven that they are ready to step in at a high level and contribute to the nation’s top-ranked team defense.

GOAL. Junior Lauren Stone (Guilderland, N.Y./Guilderland) returns for Stonehill as one of the premier goaltenders in Division II. Stone, who led the nation in goals against average (4.70) last spring, in earning Northeast-10 Goalkeeper of the Year accolades, will use her great footwork and quick hands to help anchor the defense once again. Sophomore Kara Conway (Winchester, Mass./Winchester), who served as the Chieftains primary keeper in the fall, has vastly improved her game and will serve as a formidable backup while also competing for the starting role. Freshman Amanda McGeachey (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy), who plays goal for the Stonehill women’s soccer team, is a dedicated goalkeeper who will also challenge for playing time this spring.

SCHEDULE. The Chieftains prepare for another run at the NCAA tournament by challenging some of the top teams in the nation during the regular season. Stonehill travels to reigning national champion Adelphi on Sunday, April 3rd and then welcomes perennial powerhouse West Chester to Easton on April 12th for a rematch of the 2002 NCAA National Championship. LIU-C.W. Post, who has battled the Chieftain in three of the four NCAA national semi-finals, comes to Easton on April 17th and the Chieftains do battle with Philadelphia University just before the end of the regular season in another game steeped with NCAA tournament implications. Daly also recognizes Northeast-10 opponents Bryant and Merrimack as greatly improved and ready to give the Chieftains a run in the conference standings. The 2005 campaign kicks off in Hilton Head, S.C. with games against south region up-and-comers Lees-McRae and Regis (Colo.).