2009 BRYANT WOMEN'S LACROSSE PREVIEW
Twelve letterwinners are back, including eight starters, from
last year's Bryant University women's lacrosse team that enjoyed a
successful 10-8 season. It was the program's sixth consecutive
winning season.
But now, the Bulldogs have a bigger challenge ahead. Last year was
the final season of Division II play and starting in 2009, Bryant
will be playing a full Division I schedule. It will be
the first of four transitional seasons for the entire athletic
program at Bryant, but upon completion in the fall of 2012, Bryant,
including the women's lacrosse program, will be a full-fledged
Division I school and officially a member of the Northeast
Conference (NEC).
Leading Bryant into its first year of competing at the highest
level is Karen Healy. Healy, who coached the
Bulldogs for three seasons before leaving last year to coach at
Wagner College, makes her return to Bryant this spring ready to
face the challenge that 2009 presents.
The Bulldogs should benefit from the return of several key
veterans, many who have already played for Healy, who will serve as
tremendous leaders on the field. Included is last year's
leading scorer Allison Faiola (Billerica, MA) and
senior attacker Delia Glover (Marston Mills, MA) -
(pictured right) - who will be counted on to help set the
tempo offensively this spring.
Here's a breakdown of the Bulldogs by position for 2009.
ATTACK
Veteran Lauren Albert (South Windsor, CT) leads
a youthful group up front. Starting in all 18 games as a
junior, Albert tallied 28 goals and led the team with 29
assists.
Glover, a two-sport athlete having starred with the Bryant women's
volleyball team for four seasons, looks to finish her career on a
strong note. With tremendous field vision, the playmaker had 37
goals and 15 assists a year ago her physical strength is going to
be valuable in transition. Newcomers Toni Lombardi
(Wallingford, CT), Lauren Sheridan (Bethpage,
NY) and Kaitlinh Ho (Danbury, CT) begin
their first seasons looking to compete up front.
Lauren Albert, Sr.,
Delia Glover, Sr.
Kaitlinh Ho, So.
Lauren Sheriden, Fr.
Antoinette Lombardi, Fr.
MIDFIELD
For the Bulldogs to be successful this spring, they'll need
Faiola's contribution on the offensive end. With excellent
stick skills and offensive ability around the net, Faiola enjoyed a
break-out sophomore season in 2008 where she scored a team-best 66
goals and assisted on 24 goals. Four of her goals last
year were game-winners. She'll be joined by veterans
Eliza Demarseilles (Branford, CT), Nikole
Such (Wrightstown, NJ), Katilyn McCabe (Bourne,
MA), Christine Sutherland (Brewster, NY),
Meaghan Delaney (Centerville, MA) and Meg Atha
(Valley Cottage, NY).
Demarseilles is another experienced returner who is also coming off
a breakout season. The junior started in 15 games a year ago and
netted herself 16 goals to go with 16 assists. She also
recorded a team-best 60 ground balls.
McCabe played in all 18 games as a freshman and record 21 points
(9g, 12a) in her first season. She had a season-high four
goals against AIC and added three assists against Southern
Connecticut. Sutherland played in nine games (three starts)
and scored a pair of goals while Such has experience in 23 games
played in her two seasons at Bryant.
Newcomers Mary Green (Merrick, NY) and
Kayla Manzi (Agawam, MA) will look to contribute
right away. Atha and Delaney have a combined 30 games of
experience under their belts.
Allison Faiola, Jr.,
Eliza Demarseilles, Jr.
Nikole Such, Jr.,
Kaitlyn McCabe, So.
Meaghan Delaney, So.
Meg Atha, So.
Christine Sutherland, So.
Kayla Manzi, Fr.
Mary Green, Fr.
DEFENSIVELY
The Bulldogs will look to senior Victoria Russell
(Southborough, MA) and juniors Victoria Kuhns
(South Windsor, CT) and Jessica Simpson (Wrentham,
MA) to protect the net.
All starters, Russell, Kuhns and Simpson have excellent defensive
skills plus the experience of playing for Healy as freshmen and
sophomores. Russell paced the way with 29 ground balls while
Simpson added 19 ground balls including four against Bentley in the
NE-10 playoffs. Kuhns enjoyed a strong sophomore season, adding 25
ground balls.
Freshmen MacKenzie Baker (Bayport, NY) and
Samantha Merwin (West Orange, NJ) give the team
good depth and both should challenge for playing time immediately.
Victoria Russell, Sr.,
Victoria Kuhns, Jr.
Jessica Simpson, Jr.,
MacKenzie Baker, Fr.
Samantha Merwin, Fr.
GOALTENDING
The Bulldogs welcome back starting goalie Jessica Bolton
(Belgrade Lakes, ME). Bolton recorded a 10-8 record as a sophomore
with a 14.29 goals against average and making 178 saves. She
made a season-high 14 saves in games against Bentley, Assumption
and Saint Anselm. She'll be backed up by freshman Lauren
Filippone (West Babylon, NY) who was an honorable mention
all-county selection at West Babylon High School.
Jessica Bolton, Jr.
Lauren Filippone, Fr.
