February 1, 2009
by Roger Brown/
Michaela Hardy joined the Wildcats as a walk-on and became a third-team All-American. (photo: Michael Silverwood/UNH)
A glance at her statistics from last season — 52 goals and seven assists in 19 games — reveals nothing about how the relationship between Michaela Hardy and the University of New Hampshire unfolded.
Although she finished the 2008 season ranked 30th among Division 1 players in goals per game (2.74) and was named a third-team All-American by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association, Hardy was not at the top of UNH’s wish list while she was playing lacrosse at Reading (Mass.) High School. In fact, UNH didn’t even recruit her.
Hardy said she planned to play both soccer and lacrosse at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., when her flirtation with UNH began.
Hardy lives in Reading, but her family spends much of the summer in Hampton, N.H., which is about a 30-minute drive from UNH’s Durham campus. She first visited the school to see a relative who was a UNH student, then observed a UNH lacrosse practice, and eventually met with Wildcats coach Sandy Bridgeman.
“There are recruits we go after, and there are recruits who contact us,” Bridgeman explained. “In this case, she was the one who initiated contact. She had opportunities to go elsewhere, but I think (UNH) fit a number of criteria for her.
“We knew of her, but I didn’t know enough about her to offer a scholarship. Nothing was offered except an opportunity to earn a spot on the team. She chose UNH, and we’re glad she did.”
Hardy, a midfielder, joined the UNH program as a walk-on but quickly became a scholarship player. She played in 16 of the team’s 18 games as a freshman and started in 16 contests as a sophomore, when she finished the season with 27 points (23 goals).
Hardy really began to get herself noticed during her junior year. She completed the 2008 season as the team leader in goals (52), points (59), caused turnovers (260) and shots (128), and helped the Wildcats earn an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. UNH finished with a 13-6 record following a loss to Boston University in the NCAA tournament’s opening round.
Hardy was showered with postseason accolades following the 2008 season, including a spot on the America East All-Conference first team. Hardy, a psychology major, also was named the America East Women’s Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
“Last year was definitely my breakout year,” Hardy said. “I felt so much more confident. I think I went out there and had fun. It was like I finally realized I could play at this level. I’m not a walk-on.
“I think my speed is my biggest asset, but my biggest thrill is a caused turnover. It may sound strange, but that makes me happier than anything.”
Bridgeman described Hardy as a dynamic offensive player with an excellent work ethic.
“She’s very explosive,” Bridgeman said. “She’s shifty, uses both her left and her right hand, and scores the type of goals that can break a defender’s ankle. She’s just tireless all over the field.
“You see potential in kids, but sometimes there’s more than you expect. I saw her blossom in terms of confidence in a lot of areas last year. She really put it all together.”
Hardy credits her father, Charlie, for improving her lacrosse skills. Charlie Hardy, a two-time All-American at the University of Massachusetts, was instrumental in forming the boys and girls lacrosse programs at Reading High. Michaela said her father has helped refine her game each summer.
“I’m thankful for my father pushing me,” she said.
Hardy and classmate Kelli LaPerch were elected captains of this year’s UNH team, which may have enough talent to surpass last season’s win total. One preseason national poll has UNH ranked 13th.
The Wildcats, who open the season with a home game against Bryant College on Feb. 22, return eight starters from the 2008 team. The returnees include last year’s top four scorers: Hardy, Sarah Von Bargen (41-9-50), Shaunna Kaplan (30-15-45) and Ashley Durepo (19-13-32).
If Bridgeman has a concern entering the 2009 season, it’s in goal, where the Wildcats must replace senior Ashley Milley. Milley started all 19 games last year, when UNH ranked seventh among Division 1 teams in goals allowed per game (7.91).
Sophomore Nikki Hume, who made one relief appearance last season, and freshman Kate Gunts are the goalies on this year’s roster.
“I wouldn’t call it a question mark or a concern, it’s more of an unknown,” Bridgeman said. “No matter who’s in goal, we should have a solid defense around her, so it’s a good time for a goaltender to be stepping in.
“We’re very balanced — both the offensive unit and the defensive unit. I feel very positive about the chemistry and what’s possible for this team, and Michaela is certainly a part of that.”
Hardy has been accepted into graduate school at UNH, and said after her college eligibility has expired she may remain involved in lacrosse as a coach.
“When I first visited UNH I knew right then and there this is where I wanted to be,” she said. “These have been the best four years of my life, and so much of it has been from lacrosse. It’s taught me so many valuable lessons.
“The best part of our team last year was chemistry. We lost some good players, but we still have great chemistry. I feel like this team is going to go somewhere.”
Coming off a season in which it won the America East, advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament and finished the year ranked seventh nationally with an 18-3 record, Boston University enters 2009 with high expectations. The Terriers, ranked ninth in the preseason, return 10 starters, including six all-conference picks.
Leading the way is America East Player of the Year and All-American Sarah Dalton, who broke BU’s single-season goals record in 2008 with 53. Juniors Traci Landy (44 goals, 45 draws) and Erica Baumgartner (a league-high 33 assists) complement Dalton on the offense.
The defense is anchored by senior Kelly Munroe (Westwood, Mass.) and sophomore Katie Nichols. The pair tied for the team lead with 17 forced turnovers.
Junior Rachel Klein played every minute in goal last season, posting the eighth-best save percentage (.513) and ninth-lowest goals against average (8.32) in the nation. Her 181 saves set a BU single-season mark.
Two-time high school All-American Hannah Frey, an offensive force from West Nyack, N.Y., is the top name in a seven-woman recruiting class.
League Coach of the Year Jen Johnson looks to build upon a solid 2008 at Vermont. The Catamounts went 5-1 for second place in the league and were 8-9 overall, their most regular-season victories since 1993.
Vermont returns 92 percent of its scoring and its top five points leaders, led by midfielder Kristen Millar, who was named a Regional All-American for the third straight year. America East Rookie of the Year Megan MacDonald (Wayland, Mass.) also returns to the midfield.
UMass was picked to finish second (behind Richmond) in the Atlantic 10 preseason coaches poll after finishing fourth a year ago with a 4-3 league mark (7-11 overall). The Minutewomen upset top-seeded Richmond in the semifinals of the conference tournament before falling to Temple in the final.
All-conference defender Jackie Rosenzweig, who has started every game since 2006, is back for her senior season.Offensively, UMass features sophomore Jackie Lyons, seniors Holly Drown and Meghan Reddy and junior Stephanie Hopkins.
The highlight of UMass’ schedule is a visit from four-time defending national champion Northwestern on March 25. It will be the first-ever women’s lacrosse night game at McGuirk Stadium.
Coming off a 7-10 season (2-3 ACC) Boston College will turn to attackers Maura Mahoney (Westwood, Mass.), who was the team leader in assists (18) and draws (30), and Regional All-American Jenna McCabe (Brunswick, Maine), who scored a team-high 43 goals, along with midfielder Lauren Fitzpatrick (Westwood, Mass.), who recorded 37 goals, 23 ground balls, and a team-high 23 forced turnovers.
BC has a highly touted freshman class, led by defenseman Liz Donovan and midfielder Samantha Taylor (Topsfield, Mass.).
At UConn, former UMass assistant Angela McMahon (Weston, Mass.) inherits a 1-15 squad from Megan Cerosimo.
McMahon, who has already announced a big recruiting class for 2010 that includes All-American Catherine Gross (Andover, Mass.), got a boost for this year’s squad when former high school All-American Kiersten Tupper transferred from LeMoyne before ever playing a game there.
Katy Ryan returns for her senior season after leading the team with 35 goals in 15 games. Goalie Jenna Moulton had a .397 save percentage but should benefit from the incoming talent and new coaching staff.
After going 11-5 last season, Yale is tied with Georgetown for the second-longest current streak of winning seasons (15), trailing only Maryland (27). New coach Anne Phillips (formerly at Division 3 powerhouse Franklin & Marshall) inherits a team that finished last season ranked 17th nationally under interim coach Laura Field but graduated standout midfielder Lauren Taylor and goalie Ellen Cameron.
Senior midfielder Jenn Warden, a Regional All-American, led the team with 29 caused turnovers and 37 draw controls, and she’s the top returning goal-scorer (26). Yale also will get a boost from its new home, as the Bulldogs will leave Johnson Field and begin playing on the FieldTurf at Reese Stadium, which is undergoing renovations.
Under first-year coach Lisa Miller, Harvard started last year 7-1 before settling for a 9-7 final mark. Sophomore Jess Halpern (Longmeadow, Mass.) was the league’s Rookie of the Year after scoring 34 goals, and she’ll be back to pace the attack along with senior Kaitlin Martin (also from Longmeadow), who scored 38 goals and led the league with 3.94 points per game.
Dartmouth comes off a disappointing 7-9 season but with high hopes for the future. The Big Green developed some young players — among them junior goalie Julie Wadland (Andover, Mass.), sophomore defender Shannie MacKenzie (Riverside, Conn.) and sophomore attackers Kat Collins (Darien, Conn.) and Greta Meyer — and brings in an impressive recruiting class that features three high school All-Americans.
Brown is led by senior defender Noelle DiGioia, who led the 2008 Bears with 17 caused turnovers and 36 ground balls, and senior midfielder Lauren Vitkus, who was tops on the team with 40 points and 31 goals.
Mike Waldvogel takes over at Fairfield, which went undefeated in league play and finished 17-2 a year ago.
Sophomore midfielder Kristen Coleman returns after being named the league’s Co-Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Coleman set single-season school records in points (90) and goals (68). Junior attack Erin Rigby netted 48 goals last season.
Senior Tiffany Manzi (Feeding Hills, Mass.) was named the league’s Player of the Year after leading Quinnipiac to a share of the 2008 regular-season title. Manzi, a two-time captain, led the team in goals (32), points (49), draw controls (44) and caused turnovers (30).
Sacred Heart won a school-record 12 games last year, tied for the top spot in the NEC with a 7-1 record and knocked off Quinnipiac to win the league tournament. In order to duplicate that success, the Pioneers will need another big year from senior Mary Montesarchio, who set a school single-season record with 38 assists and set a NCAA Division 1 record with seven assists in one game.
Central Connecticut senior goalie Alice Lee (Northampton, Mass.) led the nation last year in ground balls per game (5.14) and tied for first in saves per game (12.0). Obviously, it’s not a good thing when your goalie is seeing that much action, and the Blue Devils will need to improve upon that if they hope to climb up the league ladder.
Senior attacker Katie Gardner is back after scoring 23 goals last season for 5-11 Holy Cross. Senior Samantha Hallowell returns to shore up the midfield after skipping last season to study abroad. Junior MaryKate Finnegan is the anchor on defense.
Karen Healy, who served as Bryant coach from 2005-07, returns after a year at Wagner to replace Jessica Davos, who left to become an assistant at Harvard.
Healy will guide the Bulldogs in their transition from Division 2. The team will look to junior midfielder Allison Faiola (Billerica, Mass.), who led last year’s squad in goals (66) and points (90) and scored four game-winning goals, and senior middie Delia Glover (Marstons Mills, Mass.), who contributed 37 goals and 15 assists for the 10-8 Bulldogs.
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