By Gabby Tarbert
Elm Staff Writer
With preseason well under-way the women’s lacrosse team’s season has officially begun. After advancing to the Conference Championship for the first time in program history in 2012, the 2013 team is poised to make another run at the conference championship.
Head Coach Julika Blankenship is “thrilled about the changes in our players because of the off season and the incredible work of [strength and conditioning coaches] Juli [Liebig], Jonnie [Jenkins] and Andrew [Laux]. The team has bought into everything they are implementing and enjoy working hard each day to improve.” Let’s take a look at some numbers as we preview the 2013 season:
860: Number of minutes played in 2012 by returning starting goalkeeper Stephanie Seibert. “Seibs” will return as the starting goalkeeper for the 2013 season and with a 42 percent save percentage in 2012, landing her a spot on the All Centennial Conference Second Team, the Shorewomen are looking solid between the pipes.
191: The number of goals scored by the 2012 team. Having graduated prolific scorers in Rachel Bartee (22 goals) and Kalli Parrish (25 goals), the team will look to seasoned veteran attackers in senior captains Corinne Ziccardi, First Team All Centennial Conference (41 goals), Carly Eisenbrandt, All Centennial Conference Honorable Mention (30 goals), and Mollie Shipley (20 goals) to lead the attack in scoring this season. Other notable returners include sophomore Second Team All Conference Selection Emily Hubley (28 goals).
124: The number of career points owned by 2012 First Team All Conference Selection Corinne Ziccardi. Ziccardi finished out 2012 as the team’s leading scorer with 41 goals and 16 assists, and looks to return as a top finisher for the Shorewomen in her senior campaign.
42: Career caused turnovers by junior captain defender Meredith Callis. Callis will lead the defense in 2013, along with fellow returning starter junior Kathleen Maleski. Look for senior Olivia Hanley and junior Jill Undem to step up big to fill out the defensive unit.
19: Number of returning players on the Shorewomen’s roster. The team is filled with players who have extensive collegiate level experience under their belts. Look for senior captain Marissa Restaino to anchor the midfield unit, bolstered by sophomore Liz Godorov who is expected to have a breakout sophomore season. Ziccardi, Eisenbrandt and Shipley will continue to lead the attack. Callis and Maleski are key returners on the defensive unit.
4: Newcomers that join the team this year. Freshmen Rachel Kurtz, Erica Hoffman, Carley Kendall and Lucy Sheresky join the squad this season. Look for these four to work hard to earn minutes on a team of seasoned players.
2: Number of players who are also members of the women’s basketball team. Sophomore Emily Hubley and freshman Carley Kendall are having standout seasons on the court in their first season of competition for the women’s basketball team. Who says laxers can’t ball? (Note: Junior Kathleen Maleski also competes for the women’s soccer team. She broke her collarbone during a soccer game at Muhlenberg this past fall and has made one amazing comeback to be ready for Feb. 1st).
1: Number of times the Shorewomen have competed in the Conference Championship game. After clinching the third seed in the Conference tournament at the end of the regular season, and then advancing to the Championship game automatically after F&M withdrew from the tournament, the team fell to perennial powerhouse Gettysburg in the championship game. After playing for the championship, the team got a little taste of what it felt like to be at the top – and they hope to work their way right back up there in the 2013 season. That journey back to the top begins Monday, Feb. 18 at 4 p.m. when the Shorewomen will open their season at home against St. Joseph’s College.