Experienced Squad Looks to Strong 2004 Campaign

(DARTMOUTH, MA) - It is very rare that an inexperienced team would feature so much experience.

After facing years where the early practices would be spent teaching catching and throwing, the UMass-Dartmouth Corsairs women’s lacrosse team faces something new this year.  For the first time, head coach Jerry Jennings will have a team full of extensive experience at either the high school or college level, leading a 2004 campaign that could see UMD jump from middle of the pack to the next level.

“Everybody who steps onto the field will have experience,” said Coach Jennings.  “We have a lot of balance, and we’re aggressive on offense.  We have a great recruiting class as well, which we have a lot of confidence in to excel.  And our defense is solid.”

Leading the squad will be its three captains, senior goalie Liz Holland (Quincy, MA), senior attack Megan Corfield (Framingham, MA), and junior midfield/defense Kristine Johnson (Walpole, MA).  Last season, Corfield and Johnson were among the team’s leading scorers, while Holland provided UMD with one of the conference’s leading backstops.

Also returning is talented sophomore Mary Doherty (Loudonville, NY).  As a freshman, Doherty tied for first on the team in goals scored with 23, leading the squad in points with 29.  The Corsairs return one of their defensive anchors in 5 feet-10 inch sophomore Andrea Travers (Weymouth, MA), who will combine with the 5-feet-11 inch captain Johnson to form the defensive wall at the top of the key.  Joining them on defense will be returnee junior Candice Oyer (Carlisle, MA) and sophomore Meg Costello (Weymouth, MA).  Returning to the midfield positions are senior Carmel Wills (Seekonk, MA) and sophomore Katie Allen (New Bedford, MA).

Complimenting that core will be one of the strongest recruiting classes in the program’s short history.  “We will have up to five freshmen starting for the team (this season),” said Coach Jennings.  “In addition, we only had five players score in double-digits for last season, and we have the potential to exceed that this year.  Every player has a role, and everybody makes positive contribution.  Even those players who did not play in high school have emerged as factors for our team.”  In addition to the freshmen, UMass-Dartmouth added one transfer student to its roster in sophomore Katelyn Sullivan (New Bedford, MA), who will play “an immediate role in the program,” according to the coach.

The team will need that recruiting class to cover up the spots left behind by a graduating class of ten solid players.  Among those missing from UMD this year are All-Little East Conference selection Shannon Curran and captain Carlina Ferreira.  The Corsairs also lost the other half of the tie for the team’s leading scorer in Mycena Kallechey.

The Corsairs will face a very tough schedule in one of Division III’s most competitive conferences.  The LEC is very strong from top to bottom, with defending champion Plymouth State looking to once again be the favorite.  Behind Plymouth is Eastern Connecticut State, followed by a jumbled mess of the remaining teams.  UMD is right in that mix, looking to establish itself at the top of what is one of the toughest conferences in which to win.  Outside the conference, UMass-Dartmouth has added a few teams that have increased its strength of schedule, including Division II member St. Michael’s of the Northeast-10 Conference, as well as the New England Women’s Lacrosse Association champion Bridgewater State.

The squad opens up its season over the week of Spring Break in the most unlikely of places – Bermuda.  As they usually do, the Corsairs will travel to a warmer climate to train for the week of Spring Break.  While on the island, the 2004 season will kick off with UMass-Dartmouth taking on the St. Michael’s Purple Knights on March 18th.  They open up their mainland schedule on March 23rd at night at Worcester State, followed by a game at Nichols College on March 25th.  The first of five home games for the Corsairs will be on April 1st, when they take on Salve Regina, a team that Coach Jennings referred to as “a perennial foe” for the past few years.

~ Dan Rubin