Spring is rapidly approaching and the women’s lacrosse team is training hard to get in the best shape possible for this year’s upcoming season.
Last year, the Lady Cavs posted an overall record of 7-10 and went 6-2 in CSAC play. Jamie O’Hanlon, attack, led the team in scoring last year with 79 points and 61 goals. She and teammate Gabrielle Gorbey, attack, combined for 136 points last season but both have since graduated.
“Right now we are working on a lot of conditioning with a fitness coach and we’re about to head to Florida over spring break for spring training,” Caroline Vaughn, senior midfielder, said. Vaughn is one of the four seniors on the team this year.
In addition to conditioning, the team is also focusing on their offense and defense closely this preseason.
“Our first game is a conference game so it’s important that we start the season off with a win,” Chrissy Pasquariello, junior midfielder/attack, said. Pasquariello scored a career-high 29 goals in 2011.
The team has lost a lot of seniors that were key assets but they have a positive outlook on the 2012 season. Jackie Neary and the Cavs have added eight new freshmen to the roster this year.
“It’s always tough losing seniors especially ones so full of leadership like last year but this year we have some great ones who can step up and take their place,” Kellie Manoppello, sophomore attack, said. “We have some great newbies, a couple impressive freshmen who can benefit us through the year and years to come.”
“I think everyone’s adjusting well,” Vaughn said. “Returning players are stepping up and the new players we have this year look awesome.”
The one thing the team wants to get back this year is the CSAC title. The team won the conference title in 2010 but fell to Gwynedd-Mercy by a score of 14-12 in the semifinal round of last year’s playoffs.
“We want it, the coaches want it, basically everyone is giving it their all to get it back this year,” Manoppello said.
