2011 Women's Lacrosse Preview
Head coach Carly Ritchlin (Cortland '01) enters her eighth season as the coach of the Knights squad with a career record of 76-34 after going 8-8 in 2010. The women finished fourth during the regular season with a 5-3 record in SUNYAC, before losing to top-seeded Cortland in the semifinals of the conference tournament.
Geneseo needs to replace the graduated attacker Abby Hungerford, who was second team All-ECAC Upstate and first team All-SUNYAC after posting 54 goals and 14 assists for 68 points, but does return second team All-SUNYAC choice Anna Hutchings (Syracuse/Westhill), who scored 37 goals and 14 assists for 51 points from her center position as a junior in 2010 and stands 15th in career scoring with 91 points. In 2010, Hutchings led the Blue Knights in groundballs (49) and draw controls (67).
Ritchlin's starting attack includes senior Lauren Burgoon (Syracuse/West Genesee), who netted 18 goals and a team-high 16 assists for 34 points and stands 17th on the career chart with 76 points, first year Caroline Buonocore (Syracuse/Westhill) and senior Casie Damore (Brightwaters/Bay Shore), who moves to attack from the midfield. First year Meredith Weber (Bellport) should see significant playing time.
In the midfield, sophomore Lea Paris (Henrietta/Rush Henrietta) slides back from attack to attack wing after netting 18 goals and two helpers in 2010 and first year Emily Haggerty (Syracuse/Westhill), a second team All-CNY pick, complements Paris in the offensive midfield. Junior Kim Magee (Fairport) and sophomore Rachel Petrone (Rochester/Penfield) start the season as the defense wings but are threats offensively as Petrone had 32 points on 29 goals and three assists, while Magee had 16 goals and two helpers for 18 points.
Junior Johanna Trupp (Brightwaters/Bay Shore) and seniors Cassie Broton (Liverpool) and Megan Blaich (Syracuse/Westhill) vie for playing time and should provide adequate support for the starting forward and midfield group.
Ritchlin's defense is strong as junior Christine Morra (Baldwinsville/C.W Baker) and sophomore Jenna Theofield (East Northport/Northport) are returning starters and first year Bridget McGovern (Yorktown Heights/Lakeland), who was second team All-Region and second team All-SUNYAC this fall for the SUNYAC champion Geneseo field hockey team, joins the starting group. First years Helen Fields (Oceanside) and Kylie Caesar (Delmar/Bethlehem) should see playing time on defense.
In the net, senior goaltender Annie Smith (Rochester/Penfield) posted a 11.26 goals against and a .440 save percentage in 2010, however, sophomore Julie Bernatzky (Mt. Sinai) pushes for the starting job.
Senior Julia O'Brien (Huntington/Walt Whitman), sophomore Jen Costanza (Webster/Schroeder) and first years Caitlin Lally (Clarence) and Caitlin King (Wading River/Shoreham-Wading River) add to the attack. Senior Kelly Smith (Levittown/MacArthur) provides leadership in the midfield and juniors Michelle Donovan (Hauppauge) and Cristina Bisono (Hauppauge) and first year Ali Laskay (Islip) will provide depth on the defensive end.
The Knights open up their season in Orlando, Florida against Sweet Briar College on Sunday March 15 and have their home opener on Wednesday, March 23 versus Utica College at Honeoye Falls-Lima High.