Excitement looms as the Morrisville State College women’s lacrosse team eyes the opening of the new season, looking to build off a program best 13-6 record last year that included a perfect 9-0 mark in conference action. Final preparations are underway for the 2013 season opener, scheduled next Friday against Chapman University in Orange, California.
Despite the loss of seven starters, a solid core returns from last year’s Western Division North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Championship team, including leading scorer and reigning conference and ECAC Rookie of the Year, Shelby Wood (Duanesburg, N.Y.).
Wood tallied 84 goals and 19 assists for the Mustangs in her first collegiate season, setting a school record for the most points registered in a single year (103). The Synapsesports.com All-America Rookie Squad member will bring a fierce midfield attack along with veterans Cassie Edmondson (Oshawa, Ontario) and Megan Carlin (Pawling, N.Y.) who combined for a potent 94 ground ball and 42 caused turnover defensive mainstay last season.
Speed and agility in the midfield will boost the offense that will be overseen by two-time captain and low attacker Jessica Young (Clifton Park, N.Y.). Young posted 37 points last spring on 25 goals and 12 assists, and will be joined by Sybil Stanton (Walton, N.Y.) who, in her last full season of play, tallied 41 goals and 11 assists, while adding 86 ground balls, 56 draw controls and 46 caused turnovers at midfield.
The defensive unit will have new faces this season, as Morrisville State will rely on freshmen Cailin Dunphy (Putnam Valley, N.Y.), Rachel Perine (Cortland, N.Y.) and Shannon Barry (Lafayette, N.Y.), who bring a wealth of playing experience, to solidify the unit.
Fifth year head coach Amanda Nobis, the 2012 Western Division NAC Coach of the Year, is confident that with the increased intensity from the team in the preseason, and shuffling of positions to provide balance throughout the field, that the team will be headed for another great year.
The Mustangs have a long road ahead, though, as the 2013 schedule bears a tough non-conference line-up against teams from Chapman, Elmira, Misericordia, Roberts Wesleyan, Potsdam and Oswego, teams that are designed to prepare the program for the competitive league schedule that begins in April.
Morrisville State opens the year Friday, Feb. 22 at Chapman and will follow with a March 9 contest at Elmira.
On March 16, the Mustangs will open the home schedule against Roberts Wesleyan.