2020 NEAC Women's Lacrosse Preview
LATHAM, N.Y. – The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) women's lacrosse season gets underway this weekend with a pair of matches scheduled for Saturday including Lancaster Bible hosting Delaware Valley and Penn State-Abington traveling to play at Bryn Mawr. Both matches are slated for 1 p.m. starts.
Wells College hopes to go deeper in the playoffs than last season to try to unseat Morrisville State, who won its third consecutive NEAC Tournament title in 2019 and fifth overall championship in program history. The Mustangs have also won the previous two regular season championships.
The Wells College women's lacrosse schedule can be found at: https://www.wells-express.com/sports/wlax/2019-20/schedule
Wells College
Head Coach: Meg Milliman, Third Season
2019 Record: 8-6, 6-3 NEAC
2019 Postseason: NEAC First Round
Key Returners/Players to Watch: Savanah Connors (Sr., three-time captain, three-time All-conference selection at attack position), Erin Persons (Sr., Defensive Midfielder), Alisa Hines (Jr., Defensive Midfielder), Mollie Walts (Jr., Defensive Midfielder), Kari Jensen (Fr., midfielder and draw specialist), Kaylin Barbour (Fr., goalkeeper) and Aarika Mansfield (Fr., defensive midfielder)
Key Losses: Mackenzie Maloney and Miranda Mingen.
Coach's Outlook: "As pleased as we are to have made such progress in the last year by climbing the ranks from 10th to 4th in preseason polls, we are looking to continue to build our program in 2020. After two-consecutive playoff appearances, our team is looking to reach the semi-final round of the tournament this season. We are returning some very talented athletes and introducing some high-IQ freshmen into the mix, who we hope will help us elevate our level of play to reach our goals."
Cazenovia College
Head Coach: Erik Mattox, First Season
2019 Record: 9-7, 5-4 NEAC
2019 Postseason: NEAC Semifinals
Key Returners/Players to Watch: Bre Howe – second-team all-conference, Chelsie Thomas – second-team all-conference. Goalie Amanda Drazek, Sydney Alle, Callie Andolina and Jenna Townsend.
Key Losses: Michaela Breeze
Coach's Outlook: First-year coach Erik Mattox brings a lot of energy and experience to a very deep Wildcats team. Cazenovia will lean on a talented returning group to help them get back to the playoffs this season.
D'Youville College
Head Coach: Katie Mayhook, Fifth Season
2019 Record: 7-10, 3-6 NEAC
2019 Postseason: None
Key Returners/Players to Watch: Tiffany Cristofanelli, Riley Riedel, Alison Gareis, Julia Prychodko, Marina Campbell.
Key Losses: Megan Dulniak, Julie Fleming.
Coach's Outlook: The growing program contains a strong blend of veterans and young, promising talent. In its first season of NEAC competition, the Spartans increased their overall win total from four to seven. Prychodko and Gareis are returning all-conference players as the team will work to become a contender in the NEAC this season.
Hilbert College
Head Coach: TBD
2019 Record: 0-12, 0-9 NEAC
2019 Postseason: None
Key Returners/Players to Watch: Aaryonah Vaughn, Sam Lawicki, Brittany Profetta.
Key Losses: Calista Mis.
Coach's Outlook: Look to improve and win games this season.
Keuka College
Head Coach: Eryn McCaffrey, 6th Season
2019 Record: 14-2, 8-1 NEAC
2019 Postseason: NEAC Semifinals
Key Returners/Players to Watch: Brenna Voigt, Sydney Bloom, Madelaine Taylor.
Key Losses: Kendall Neuberger, Elizabeth Sherman.
Coach's Outlook: Coming off a real solid year and graduating a large class, the Wolves brought in a lot of new talent. Coach McCaffrey is excited to see how things come together with the additions and believes the team will be strong again.
Lancaster Bible
Head Coach: Cheri Horst, Sixth Season
2019 Record: 3-14, 2-7 NEAC
2019 Postseason: None
Key Returners/Players to Watch: Emily Morgan (Sr., M, 6 goals, 2 assists, 11 groundballs), Sarah Vega (Sr., M, 5 goals, 2 assists, 16 groundballs), Kaitlyn Myers (Jr., M, 6 goals, 6 groundballs), Camryn Horst (So., M/D, 20 groundballs, 21 caused turnovers).
Key Losses: Hannah Thompson (67 goals, 13 assists, 125 draw controls, 69 groundballs), Raegan Horst (48 goals, 11 assists, 60 draw controls, 45 groundballs).
Coach's Outlook: The Chargers lost their top two scorers from a year ago, but brought in many new players who contribute quickly. The team is young, but will look to use a tough, nonconference schedule to ready themselves for NEAC play.
Medaille College
Head Coach: Erin Schurr, Second Season
2019 Record: 8-10, 4-5 NEAC
2019 Postseason: NEAC First Round
Key Returners/Players to Watch: Thelma Outlaw, Alexis Ackerson, Emma Campagna, Alexis Cheers, Tatiana Wright.
Key Losses: Samantha Burlow
Coach's Outlook: "We anticipate the team to continue to develop and grow as a unit and improve as the season goes on."
Morrisville State
Head Coach: Taryn Burkholder, 6th Season
2019 Record: 14-6, 9-0 NEAC
2019 Postseason: NEAC Tournament Champions, NCAA Championships First Round
Key Returners/Players to Watch: Lexi Firkins, Kadi Bice, Makenzi Santini, Grace Hanehan, Lauren McGreal, Melissa Lucciola.
Key Losses: Courtney Cavellier, Lydia Cooley, Celia Abbott, Chelsea McNeal, Jill Hughes, Janet Hanehan.
Coach's Outlook: "It's a new year for us with a completely different team. We graduated an incredible class last season, but we have players who are ready to fill those key roles. We are excited to keep building on last year and this fall. We are looking forward to competing with a strong non-conference schedule to help prepare us for NEAC play."
Penn State-Abington
Head Coach: Suzanne Sheehan,1st Season
2019 Record: 2-14, 1-8 NEAC
2019 Postseason: None
Key Returners/Players to Watch: Alynn Phelan
Key Losses: Melissa Felicetti
Coach's Outlook: "I am excited for this new journey into coaching Division III women's lacrosse. As a former Division III player, I know what it is like to be a student-athlete. I'm looking forward to mentoring our student-athletes watching them grow, develop and prepare them for the future."
SUNY Poly
Head Coach: Morgan DuPont, Second Season
2019 Record: 12-7, 7-2 NEAC
2019 Postseason: NEAC Championship Game
Key Returners/Players to Watch: Kayla Prosinski-had the single best season in program history scoring 155 points (113 goals, 42 assists). Prosinski broke the all-time scoring record, the single season scoring record, and was ranked top 5 nationally in both goals and points. She also became the only player in Wildcat history to score 100 plus goals in a single season. Prosinski also had a team high 123 draw controls, 11 groundballs, and caused 62 turnovers.
Emily Somes - had a highlight first season with the Wildcats tailing 104 points (82 goals, 22 assists). Somes became the second player in program history to score 100 points in a single season. She was a defensive leader who is capable of taking control on both ends of the field.
Molly Burdick – all-conference second team. In Burdick's first season ever playing lacrosse, she was able to help lock down the defense along with chipping in on the attacking end.
Ally Lugo - had a great first year in goal tailing 142 total saves. She will be returning as the Wildcats starting goalie.
Key Losses: Samantha Dayter.
Coach's Outlook: Returning the bulk of the offensive power this season, the Wildcats added some key new faces. SUNY Poly is hoping to make a return to the Championship game where they were just a few goals shy of their second NEAC Championship. Expect a big year out of Prosinski and Somes.
This article appears courtesy of the NEAC and a direct link can be found at: https://www.neacsports.com/sports/wlax/2019-20/releases/wlax-season-preview
