No longer can the term "rebuilding process" be used to describe
the UMass women's lacrosse team. Last season saw the Minutewomen
return to postseason play for the first time since 1988, and the
appearance signified the end of Head Coach Francesca McClellan's task
of bringing the team back to national prominence after the program
was reinstated in 1993.
Entering this season, the team has the highest expectations of
any previous McClellan coached UMass squad. The Minutewomen
graduated only three seniors off a team that posted a 9-6 record and
reached the semifinals of the ECAC tournament, and the team returns
nine starters and a number of experienced players. McClellan has
built a solid foundation for the Minutewomen since taking over before
the 1994 season. And now McClellan has her eyes set on loftier
goals.
"Our goals are to play up to our potential, remain consistent
and improve upon last season's record," said McClellan. "Our core
group [of players] is back and more experienced and
smarter."
This season also presents a new challenge for the Minutewomen
to strive to capture. The 1999 season will mark the first season of
Atlantic 10 Conference competition, as the conference adopted the
sport this past spring.
"We would like to capture the first Atlantic 10 Championship,"
said McClellan. "It's exciting. Last season's postseason play gave
us tournament experience. It gave us something we haven't had
[since the program was reinstated in 1993]."
UMass returns only two seniors, co-captains Melissa Anderson
and Laura Korutz. However, both will play an important part in the
outcome of the season. McClellan also returns nine juniors and 10
sophomores, and adds four freshmen to the squad.
Goal
Last season McClellan used both goaltenders on the roster
throughout the season. This season she looks for one of the two to
step up to the forefront and assume the starting position.
"Both keepers have seen the starting position," said McClellan.
"Jen Nardi had a successful spring season and Tara Durkin came back
fighting to start this fall."
Both Nardi and Durkin have proved they can be successful in the
cage, but McClellan is looking for some consistency from the
position. Last season both keepers had their share of ups and downs.
However, this season both goaltenders are now sophomores and each
has the experience of working together throughout a full season.
Nardi saw more time in the cage than Durkin did last season, but
Durkin came back strong in the fall season and is pushing Nardi for
more playing time.
"They certainly challenge each other," said McClellan.
"There's no doubt they push each other and learn from one
another."
Defense
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The Minutewomen had the
fourteenth best scoring
defense in the nation last
season.
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UMass lost one of its toughest defenders to graduation in Amy
Leder. However, the Minutewomen do return a number of experienced
defenders. Anchoring the defensive unit down low will be juniors
Lynne Young, a two-time second team Northeast All-America selection,
and Colleen Wales.
"I think our team defense is one of our strengths," said
McClellan. "There's no doubt that we pride ourselves on our
defensive play. We are known to be pretty physical and
aggressive."
Joining Young on defense will be juniors Noelle Gorski,
Melissa Meile and Jessica Passanese. Passanese started all of last
season, and both Gorski and Meile saw action in a majority of the
games. Sophomores Eileen Currier, Kara DePaula and Shalee Merkle all
saw game action last season and will be counted on this year. Adding
more depth to the defense will be freshmen Verena Bryan and Brooke
Werley.
"Our defense is very strong," said McClellan. "We work hard on
team defense and communication. We also work on denying the other
team possession on transition and in the box."
This season McClellan is looking for the unit to play more
consistently. McClellan returns many key members of a defensive unit
that ranked 14th in the nation in scoring defense last season.
Midfield
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Junior Sara MacNabb
returns as an
offensive
threat to the midfield.
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Despite graduating Jen Herker, the Minutewomen return a number of
experienced midfielders. Co-captain Melissa Anderson anchors the
defensive midfielders. She is coming off a season that saw her earn
first-team Northeast All-America honors. The senior played an
important defensive role and finished the season with 12 goals and 2
assists.
Joining Anderson as part of the defensive midfield will be
sophomore Denise Brey. Brey is coming off a solid season in which
she started 14 games and gained a wealth of game experience.
"We do a nice job in the midfield," said McClellan. "Our
passing in transition is strong. Our fast-break offense has really
stepped it up a level due to our midfield speed and skill."
The attack side of the midfield looks to be strong. There is a
lot of depth and many players gained experience last season. Junior
Stephanie Pavlick had a strong season last year netting 25 goals and
6 assists. She will be joined by fellow juniors Sara MacNabb and
Rebecca Minaker and sophomore Rachel Ingraffea. New to the squad are
sophomore Olivia Cabrera and freshmen Christy Ambrose and Pam Neale,
who will challenge for playing time.
"We are creating more scoring opportunities to put the ball in
the cage through our midfield attack," said McClellan. "Losing Leder
and Herker hurt us in speed. We may not be as fast as last year, but
we may be more skilled. We have a lot more depth than we have had in
the past."
Attack
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Senior Laura Korutz has
led the
Minutewomen in
scoring each of the
past three
seasons.
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The forward line will again be led by senior Laura Korutz. Korutz
finished last season as the Minutewomen's leading scorer for the
third consecutive season. She netted 32 goals and nine assists and
moved into ninth place on the UMass career points list with 110. She
also cracked the top ten career goals list and career assists
list.
"[Our offense] has been primarily Pavlick and Korutz,"
said McClellan. "In order for us to achieve our goals we need more
than two goal scorers. We need more players putting the ball in the
cage. One of our strengths is our set-up offense, which we counted
on last year. This year we not only have our set-up offense, but we
are also creating more shot opportunities on our fast break."
McClellan is focusing on a group of players to step up their
game. Among the players are junior Katie Carey, who is returning
from knee surgery that caused her to sit out last season and
sophomores Ingraffea, Danielle McKeon and Fay Naber.
Schedule
As always, UMass prides itself on playing a difficult schedule.
Besides the games with Ivy League powerhouses Brown, Harvard and
Dartmouth, the Minutewomen will also face their first year of
Atlantic 10 Conference play. The conference schedule is highlighted
by an April 16th visit to 1997 NCAA Tournament semifinalist Temple.
The Minutewomen will kick-off their preseason by competing in the
annual South of the Border Tournament in Chapel Hill, N.C., the last
weekend in February.
Wrap-Up
The Minutewomen hope to build off last season's success and
make an immediate impact in the Atlantic 10. The team returns nine
starters and a number of experienced players at all positions. UMass
enjoyed a solid fall season with scrimmages against national
powerhouses Loyola and Maryland as well as the U.S. National
Team.
"Our objective for this year, no doubt about it, is to score
more goals," said McClellan. "We have to score more goals than last
year. If every player goes out there and plays her hardest we will
have an exciting year. I think we have to keep everybody focused on
how to make it work as a team."
