UMass Dartmouth women's lacrosse returns six starters from last season's 8-8 squad

(DARTMOUTH, MA) - Although UMass Dartmouth women's lacrosse coach Jerry Jennings lost the program's all-time leading scorer to graduation last season, the Corsairs have six returning starters back this season, including four of UMass Dartmouth's top seven scorers.

UMass Dartmouth's career leading scorer Emily Valorz will be on the sidelines this season serving as an assistant to Jennings for the 2003 season, along with former Corsair netminder Denise Saucier Medaglia.

The job of taking Valorz's place on offense will be shared by a pair of last year's top scorers, junior Megan Corfield (Framingham, MA) and senior co-captain Shannon Curran (Framingham, MA). Corfield was the Corsairs' third leading scorer last season, netting 27 goals along with seven assists for 34 points. In Curran, the Corsairs return their only representative on the Little East Conference All-Star team from last season. A Second Team All-LEC selection, Curran scored 16 goals with eight assists for 24 points, sixth best for the Corsairs, and was a key leader throughout the season. Sophomore Kristine Johnson (Walpole, MA) is another talented offensive player, scoring 14 goals with seven assists for 21 points last year.

On the defensive end, the Corsairs will look to the return of senior co-captain and defender Carlina Ferreira (Taunton, MA), playing in front of junior goalie Liz Holland (Quincy, MA). As the Corsairs' starter in goal last year, Holland had an outstanding rookie season. She posted a .573 save percentage, second best among LEC goalies and her 11.05 goals against average was fifth best in the conference.

"The 2003 team has to rise to a tougher schedule of games and improved opponents this year,' said Jennings, who enters his sixth season as the Corsairs' only women's lacrosse coach since the program began as a varsity program in 1998. "I hope the newer players can improve to a significant degree and provide us with a respectable offense."

Jennings said he has a pair of newcomers to the program who he thinks may be solid contributors in their first season. Mary Doherty (Loudonville, NY) and Denise Siegal (Framingham, MA) have played well during the preseason and will have a chance to see some playing time this season.

As they have for the last few seasons, the Corsairs will open their season on a swing through California. UMass Dartmouth will play its season opener on March 18 at Whittier College. The Corsairs will also take on the University of Redlands on March 20 before playing Claremont-Scripps on March 22.

UMass Dartmouth will return to New England and travel to Elms College for a non-conference game on March 24 before hosting Nichols College in the home opener on March 28. The Corsair will open LEC action on April 5 at home against Keene State.

The 2003 season will be the second for women's lacrosse competition in the LEC. In the inaugural season, the Corsairs were 4-4 in the LEC and qualified for the LEC Tournament. In their first LEC Tournament game, the Corsairs defeated Western Connecticut, 14-13, before being knocked out of the tournament in the semi-finals after losing, 20-5, to Plymouth State.

Prior to moving into the LEC, the Corsairs played for four seasons in the New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance, qualifying for the NEWLA playoffs in three of those four seasons.