February 4, 2010
BU, and everybody else?
by Brian Miller/
Division 1 preview
Boston University
2009: 15-4, 6-0 America East
Head coach: Liz Robertshaw (fourth season, 46-13)
Postseason: America East Champions; lost 20-10 to Syracuse in the first round of the Division I tournament.
Overview: The Terriers are stacked heading into the 2010 season. Even after losing all-everything midfielder Sarah Dalton and All-America defender Kelly Monroe, the Terriers can boast they have 10 starters returning. Those 10 starters include first-time All-America pick McKinley Curro, whose 40 goals and 31 assists were second to Dalton’s 102 points (91 goals) in 2009. At the back end, Rachel Klein is back in net after starting all 19 games last year and defender Courtney Burd returns. Jen Martin, Corcoran Downey, and Mandy Rogers are back at the midfield.
Massachusetts
2009: 11-8, 6-1 Atlantic 10
Head coach: Alexis Venechanos (fourth season, 26-28)
Postseason: Atlantic 10 champions; Lost 23-6 to Northwestern in the first round of the Division I tournament.
Key losses: Holly Drown, midfield; Meghan Reddy, attack; Jackie Rosenzweig, defense.
Overview: The Minutewomen took a few hits this past offseason in losing some players ranking high on the all-time record books at Massachusetts. Defender Jackie Rosenzweig and attacker Meghan Reddy were a 1-2 punch on the UMass career list for games played. Holly Drown and Reddy were in the top 20 for various scoring categories, and Drown is the all-time leader in draw controls, so there is no denying their solid presence and leadership will be missed.
However, coach Alexis Venechanos has been making strides in each of her three previous seasons and this year she has to look forward to the efforts of A-10 first teamer Jackie Lyons, a junior who led the team in scoring last year with 44 goals and 27 assists. Lyons, the school's all-time leader in game-winning goals (seven) will be joined on the offensive front by Haley Smith, a talented junior who tossed in 33 goals last year and was named to the Atlantic 10 second team.
Katie Florence returns to the goaltender position and is ninth all-time in UMass saves after just her freshman campaign, putting her on a pace to shatter all of the schoolís career records. Between sophomore Riley Perry and junior Nazy Kerr, the Minutewomen have 29 starts on defense from 2009.
New Hampshire
2009: 12-7, 4-2 America East
Head coach: Michael Daly (first season)
Postseason: Lost 16-6 to Boston University in the championship game of the America East tournament.
Key losses: Sarah Von Bargen, Beth Stankus, Michaela Hardy, Kelli LaPerch, Susie Piotrkowski, Ashley Durepo.
Overview: New Hampshire ended its regular season with a four-game sweep of America East opponents before falling to Boston University in the conference championship, and now returns a solid bunch of players for the upcoming season. However, the Wildcats will be missing the offense of All-American Sarah Von Bargen (62 goals in 2009) and All-Region defender Beth Stankus.
New Hampshire has the most homegrown regional players with 66 percent of its 24-woman roster hailing from New England high schools. Theyíll be looking to Shauna Kaplan to pick up where she left off in last year's 29-goal, 25-assist effort for her senior season. Sophomores Hayley Rausch (17-6), Kate Keagans (16 goals), and Ilana Cohen (11 goals) all had impressive rookie seasons.
Allie Duclos returns at the midfield and Kellen Millard may step in on defense for a more regular role. Kate Gunts spent the most time in net last year, averaging 8.18 gpg.
Fairfield
2009: 17-3, 6-0 MAAC
Head coach: Mike Waldvogel (second season, 17-3)
Postseason: MAAC Regular Season Champions; lost 10-8 to Penn in the first round of the Division I tournament.
Key losses: Rebecca White, midfield; Kim Fuchs, attack; Abbey Goodwin, attack; Kylee Martin, midfield; Alyssa Vecchione, defense; Lauren Chatnik, goaltender.
Overview: Fairfield has a tremendous amount of momentum heading into this season, coming off a 17-3 campaign in 2009 in coach Mike Waldvogelís first season. The MAAC now has an automatic bid into the big dance and Fairfield reached the tournament for the first time ever last season. Last season, the team had seven players score more than 24 goals.
Now comes the bad news as Fairfield loses four of those top seven scorers, top defender Alyssa Vecchione and goaltender Lauren Chatnik. Returning, however, is former MAAC Offensive Player of the Year Kristen Coleman (team-leading 61 goals, 27 assists in '09); Erin Rigby (third in scoring with 41 goals, 22 assists), and Brittany Bare will be asked to step up as well.
Dartmouth
2009: 8-8, 5-2 Ivy League
Head coach: Amy Patton (18 seasons, 187-88)
Postseason: none
Key losses: Katherine Chiusano, midfield.
Overview: The Big Green appear to be rocking towards a solid season in 2009 as Amy Patton's 18th season as head coach approaches. The Northeast should be wary, considering Kat Collins returns after leading the Ivy League in goals and points per game in just her sophomore season. Her 51 points (38 goals) earned her IWCLA All-Region, All-Ivy honors, among other recognition.
Dartmouth's top goalie, Julie Wadland, and best defender, midfielder Colleen Olsen, were named to the U.S. National Developmental Squad. Including Collins, the Big Green have five of their top six scorers returning. Greta Meyer and Sarah Parks combined for 53 goals and 17 assists last year. Throw in a terrific freshman class and the Big Green will be looking to return to the NCAA tournament for the 11th time in Patton's tenure.
Quinnipiac
2009: 13-3, 7-1 Northeast Conference
Head coach: Danie Caro (fifth season, 39-25)
Postseason: Lost 11-6 in the finals of the Northeast Conference tournament.
Key losses: Hannah Nelson, goalkeeper; Ashley Valentine, midfield; Erin Coffey, midfield; Nicole Fiore, Tiffany Manzi.
Overview: The Bobcats have a lot to build on for 2010, but with a few key gaps to fill. Hannah Nelson, the nation's leader in save percentage (.547) is gone with Noelle Martello (four starts, nine games played in 2009) the most likely to step in.
The Bobcats also lose Nicole Fiore — their leading scorer with 54 points — and Ashley Valentine, the teamís MVP and lone representative at the North-South Senior All-Star game. Erin Coffey takes off after a fine season during which she was named the team's Outstanding Defender.
But Katie Latonick will be leading the offense after posting an incredible 44 assists in 2009 to set the schoolís single-season record. The Bobcats will need a few others to step in if they wish to build on their breakout campaign from last year.
Sacred Heart
2009: 12-7, 7-1 Northeast
Head coach: Laura Cook (11th season, 97-72)
Postseason: Northeast Conference champions
Key losses: Amanda Williams, attack; Mary Montesarchio, midfield; Erika Spadofora, defense.
Overview: The good news? Sacred Heart returns its entire defense. Goalkeeper Chelsea Wagner — second in the nation in save percentage (.541) last year — is the core of that group, along with defenders Jackie Pierce, Nicole Gerosa, Mary LaGrassa and Elizabeth Drehwing.
The bad news? NEC Player of the Year and scoring phenom Amanda Williams graduated after an 80-point season in 2009.
Mary Montesarchio, who put up 62 points herself, also is gone.
Those gaps will have to be filled by the teamís other returning scorers if this team is going to have a shot at repeating as conference champions.
Vermont
2009: 9-8, 3-3 America East
Head coach: Jennifer Johnson (sixth season, 31-50)
Postseason: none
Key losses: Kristen Millar, Sarah DeStefano, Jessa Merrill, Olivia Hatfield, goalkeeper.
Overview: The Vermont Catamounts may take a big hit this year in recovering from the graduation of possibly the greatest player in UVM history, Kristen Millar. Millar left as the program's all-time leader in points, goals, assists, and draw controls; she is also the NCAA Division I All-Time leader in controlling the draw.
But the Cats do have some promise with a few developing sparks. Allison Pfohl was the closest to Millar's mark of 63 points with 38 of her own, followed closely by Sara Buxton at 35. There were others who showed promise, but they will have to step up to fill the big void, especially when it comes to triggering the offense as a feeder.
On defense, Laura Barber should be the incumbent to step into the net, where Olivia Hatfield started 15 games last season.
Harvard
2009: 6-10, 2-5 Ivy League
Head coach: Lisa Miller (third season, 15-17)
Postseason: none
Key loss: Kaitlin Martin.
Overview: With a bunch of starters back, third-year coach Lisa Miller has the talent to make a move toward the upper echelons of the Ivy League this spring. Jess Halpern is at the top of that list; her 55 points (46 goals) are the most of any returning Crimson by 36 points.
Tyler Petropulos is next with 29 points (23 goals) and Sara Flood is back after posting 21 goals in 2009. Goalie Kerry Clark (9.92 goals against average) returns, along with defenders Sam McMahon and Delia Pais, who started every game in which they appeared last year.
Yale
2009: 5-11, 1-6 Ivy League
Head coach: Anne Phillips (second season, 5-11)
Postseason: none
Key losses: Jenn Warden.
Overview: Yale may be looking at either a rebuilding season, or a building season, depending on how the Bulldogs decide to respond to losing the teamís leading scorer from 2009. Jenn Warden's 51 points were tops on the team by 16 points, the next closest being Jenna Block, a senior. Jessica Sturgell chipped in 23 goals (28 points), but after that the team will need some ladies to step up.
Goaltender Whitney Quackenbush is now a sophomore with 15 games from her freshman year as experience. The team has a lot of players with experience on defense, including Claire Eliasberg, Michele Fiorentino, Natalie Reid, and Fielding Kidd.
Boston College
2009: 9-9, 0-5 Atlantic Coast
Head coach: Bowen Holden (fifth season, 30-39)
Postseason: none
Key losses: Jenna McCabe, attack; Maura Mahoney, midfield; Lauren Fitzpatrick, midfield; Emily Hannigan, defense; Margot Spatola, defense; Katie Monaghan, goalkeeper.
Overview: The Eagles were soaring high in 2009 with one of their best seasons ever, having four players named to the IWCLA Division I All-Regional team. However, three of those players are gone, including the team's second-leading scorer in Jenna McCabe and goalkeeper Katie Monaghan.
But the team has some youth taking over the reins - led by Framingham, Mass.'s Kristin Igoe, who tallied 50 points last season as a sophomore and earned All-Region honors as well. Her talents, along with Lauren Costello (the teamís leading scorer with 52 points) may prove to be a serious Atlantic Coast Conference threat. Sam Taylor and Jill Rekart will likely step in to more serious roles at the midfield.
Elizabeth Donovan started all 18 games and Blair Clancy started all 15 games in which she appeared, giving the Eagles some experience on defense.
Brown
2009: 7-8, 3-4 Ivy League
Head coach: Keely McDonald (sixth season, 26-52)
Postseason: none
Key losses: Jesse Nunn, midfield; Kelly Robinson, midfield; Lauren Vitkus, midfield.
Overview: Brown takes a big hit at the midfield where it loses three All-Ivy players in Jesse Nunn, Kelly Robinson, and Lauren Vitkus.
The Bears return their starting goalie from a year ago, Isabel Harvey, who saw action in 13 games. She stopped 39.6% of the shots she faced, allowing 10.43 gpg.
Holy Cross
2009: 5-11, 3-3 Patriot League
Head coach: Stephanie Ridolfi (eighth season, 62-62)
Postseason: none
Key losses: Kaitlyn Curley, Samantha Hallowell, Lisa Gagne.
Overview: The Crusaders lose just three starters from 2009, bringing back nine in an attempt to make the tournament for just the third time in school history (2006, 07). Katie Gardner led the team in scoring with 50 points, while Meg O'Leary and Megan Fenton each scored 25 goals. Kat Sutton and Ali Baird round out the offensive threats for Holy Cross.
Connecticut
2009: 3-13, 2-5 Big East
Head coach: Angela McMahon (second season, 3-13)
Postseason: none
Key losses: Whitney Michele, midfield; Katy Ryan, midfield; Meghan Nanfeldt, midfield.
Overview: Connecticut will feel it strongly in the midfield this season, where it lost three solid players, but the Huskies will feel it even more in net where it will rely on one of two freshman recruits to take over. At least the team has its leading scorer back in Kiersten Tupper, who as a sophomore posted 22 goals and 29 assists to lead the Huskies. M.E. Lapham is back as well.
Bryant
2009: 3-13, Independent
Head coach: Karen Healy (fifth season, 35-29)
Postseason: Bryant becomes eligible for Division I postseason play in 2011.
Key losses: Delia Glover, midfield; Lauren Albert, attack; Victoria Russell, defense.
Overview: Karen Healy returned from a one-year stint at Wagner College to re-take control at Bryant in 2009, and she has a few sparks on offense and in the net as Bryant preps for its third season in Division I. The squad loses leading scorer Delia Glover (41 goals, 12 assists in 2009), Lauren Albert (13 goals, six assists), and defender Victoria Russell, but everyone else is back. Allison Fayola (33 goals, 16 assists) and Mary Green (29 goals, nine assists) will be looked upon to carry the offensive load; on defense, the squad is young, and has two goaltenders in Jessica Bolton and Lauren Filippone who split time a year ago.
Central Connecticut State
2009: 1-15, 1-7 Northeast
Head coach: Rachel Tringali (fifth season, 8-51)
Postseason: none
Key losses: Stephanie John, midfield; Jill Pomposi, defense; Alice Lee, goalkeeper.
Overview: Coach Rachel Tringali welcomes back five of her top six scorers from 2009, including Alexa Smead (20 goals, five assists) and Ashley Perkoski, Lyndsey Mastandreau, and Michele Conway, who scored about 15 goals each last year.
