Bucknell University Athletics
Women's Lacrosse Opens 2001 Season at American
2/27/2001 7:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Feb. 27, 2001
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- The 2001 campaign could be an exciting season for the Bucknell women's lacrosse team. After a 5-8 record in 1999, the Bison responded with a 6-7 record in 2000 and will look to improve upon that record more so in 2001. Head Coach Barb Jordan has a strong team returning, losing only three seniors to graduation, and bringing back five All-Patriot League second-team players.
The strength of the team will come from the experience and leadership of its three captains. Seniors Ashley Evans (Millersville, Md./Severna Park), Kari Evans (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty) and Annie Richards (Pt. Pleasant, N.J./Lawrenceville School) will represent the women's lacrosse team this spring as its captains. While all three individuals are unique in personality and character, these are the qualities of the captains that will become their strength as the season wears on into April. The three captains, who have already established themselves as lacrosse players, will now take on coach Jordan's challenge of leading the team to victory.
ATTACK: Ashley Evans, who scored a career high 35 goals in 2000, is the Orange and Blue's leading returning scorer. Evans, who currently has 63 goals, 18 assists, and 81 points in her career, could break into the top five scorers in Bison history with another good season. Joining Evans on the frontline is the 2000 Patriot League Rookie-of-the-Year, sophomore Suzanne Raffaele (Springfield, Pa./Archmere Academy). Raffaele, who led all Patriot League rookies with 35 goals, will attempt to replicate her magical first season at Bucknell.
Returning to attack for their junior year are Robin Arnesen (Easton, Md./Episcopal), Melissa Montefusco (Chatham, N.J./Chatham) and Allison Berry (Phoenix, Md./Maryvale Prep). Montefusco was selected to the All-Patriot League Second Team for her play in 2000. Coach Jordan only hopes that Montefusco can find the open person as well as she did in the 2000 season, leading the team and Patriot League with 18 and seven assists, respectively. Arnesen and Berry will come into their junior year with a burning desire to increase their playing time after injuries have kept them from competing at 100%.
Joining the attack group will be freshmen Meredith Morris (Morristown, N.J./Taft School), Laura Nuss (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek) and Emma Schachner (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven), all of whom have the skills and ability to break onto the scene and score some goals for the Bison.
MIDFIELD: Well represented at the midfield position is the senior class. Seniors Paige Brewster (Lambertville, N.J./Hopewell-Valley), Jen Holiday (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland), and Kari Evans have played for three years under the guidance of coach Jordan learning the tricks-of-the-trade. Brewster has found her niche as an excellent defensive midfielder who has breakaway speed to quickly move the ball from one end of the field to the other. Last season, Brewster picked up 40 ground balls as a midfielder. Holiday, who is known for her incredible endurance, has been a very consistent player over the past three years for the Orange and Blue. Evans, who has regained her speed after knee surgery her freshman year, will be a crucial defender for the Bison as well as an offensive threat.
Four midfielder's will be provided to the Orange and Blue from the sophomore class. Lauren Abrahimzadeh (Manchester, N.H./Derryfield), Whitney Russell (Wellesley, Mass./Dana Hall School), Stephanie Yezek (Columbia, Md./Hammond), and Lindsay Zantop (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Detroit Country Day) are the four midfielder's from last year's freshman class. Coach Jordan has high hopes for these four individuals after they spent their first season primarily learning the system and adapting to the college level lacrosse game. This class was riddled by injuries last season and it is important that they are healthy in 2001 so as to provide needed depth to the midfield position.
Incoming freshmen Amy Hasler (Birmingham, Mich./Seaholm), Elizabeth Schuster (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville), Laura Seiboth (Havertown, Pa./Haverford), and Meredith Wright (Bethesda, Md./Holton Arms) will be able to provide some extra depth to the Herd's midfield.
DEFENSE: The defenders only lose one starter to graduation and hope that some youthful talent will fill the position. The remaining two defenders are juniors Erin Curtis (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) and Jen Gianis (Summit, N.J./Kent Place). Both Curtis and Gianis are coming off excellent sophomore seasons where they helped to anchor one of the best defensive units in the league. Curtis, named to the All-Patriot League Second Team, and Gianis will be eager to get some help from incoming freshmen Mia Donahue (Medford, N.J./Shawnee), Amy Hafets (Columbia, Md./Hammond), and Tara Markowski (Baltimore, Md./Roland Park).
GOALKEEPERS: As opposed to past seasons for the Orange and Blue, this will be the deepest position on the roster. Richards will return with a healthy elbow and attitude to compete for the starting role against sophomore Nicole Kallis (Stevensville, Md./St. Mary's). Kallis took over to replace Richards after the two-year starter injured her elbow during a game against Stanford last season. Kallis responded well to the pressure of starting in goal as a freshman and went on to be selected to the All-Patriot League Second Team. The third goalie for coach Jordan is sophomore Heather Hall (West Chester, Pa./W.C. East), who constantly works to learn more about the position and necessary technique. This position could conceivably be a three-headed monster by the end of the season.
SCHEDULE: The 2001 season includes the obligatory match-ups against Patriot League teams Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Villanova, and Lehigh. New to the 2001 season is a Patriot League conference tournament where the top four lacrosse teams in the league will face-off at the site of the league's regular season champion.
The team is headed to California over spring break to play against Stanford, St. Mary's and Cal-Berkeley.
Amid the 15 game schedule are only six home matches. The squad will enjoy a three-game homestand in the middle of April and after that only two away games before the inaugural Women's Lacrosse Patriot League Championships.
The Bison open the season with a 12:00 p.m. game at American on Saturday, March 3.
