Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Lacrosse Opens Season Tuesday Against Howard
3/1/2004 7:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
March 1, 2004
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell women's lacrosse team opens its season Tuesday at Graham Field against Howard at 7 p.m., and expectations are high considering last season's success. The Bison had a non-losing season for only the fourth time in program history last year, and the first since the back-to-back successes of 1997 and 1998. Suzanne Raffaele was honored as the Patriot League's Offensive Player of the Year, and Nicole Kallis was chosen as the league's Defensive Player of the Year. All of these occurred under Randall Flynn, who enters just her second season at Bucknell in 2004. The challenge this season will be to replace those two outstanding graduates and pile the win total even higher. Patriot League coaches and sports information directors certainly think they can, choosing the Bison third this year behind American and Colgate in the league's preseason poll.
ATTACK
Raffaele scored 40 goals last year, easily a team high and the fifth-most in school history. Flynn says it will be a team effort to try and replace one special player. "We won't have one leader on the attack, though Meredith Wright will be the anchor. The good thing this year is that people are more confident in scoring goals than they were last year."
Wright, a midfielder last year, had 20 goals and 27 assists for 47 points, second on the team. Another senior, Laura Nuss, also figures to play a large role in the Bucknell attack, coming off a 24 goal-13 assist season. Katie Edge leads a talented freshman class, as Flynn will count on the McLean, Va., native to contribute on offense.
Bucknell had two additional 20-goal scorers last season, including midfielder Amy Hasler, who scored 27, and midfielder Andrea Paraud, who scored 21. Paraud will have a unique challenge this season as the team's lone lefthanded shooter, replacing fellow lefty Raffaele.
A key position change from last season will be Emily Burman's move to an attacking role from a defensive position. Burman chipped in three goals last year.
Bucknell will carry six attackers this year, with junior Meryl Geisse and freshman Kelly Doyle complementing Wright, Nuss, Edge and Burman.
MIDFIELD
Hasler, a captain for the second time in 2004, will lead the midfielders in 2004 in addition to being a threat on the attack. Victoria Field, a sophomore, will also contribute both in a midfield role as well as on the attack. Field played in all 16 games as a freshman, starting two and scoring eight goals.
Paraud, Cora Preston and tri-captain Elizabeth Schuster join Hasler as the four regular starters from last season who will play midfield this year. Preston scored seven goals last year and Schuster scored two, adding to Paraud and Hasler's 20-plus seasons.
Lauren Kremer, from Chadds Ford, Pa., is a freshman that Flynn expects to contribute right away. The Bison have 14 midfielders on the roster, making it the deepest position by far for Bucknell. Abby Brewster, Amy Lee, Maris Tomb, Laura Seiboth and Ellen Kurkowski make up the returning midfielders that will be complemented by four freshmen at the position.
DEFENSE
The Bucknell defense was key in last season's success, and tri-captain Amy Hafets will return to lead that aspect of Bucknell's game. In her second year as captain, Hafets started all 16 of Bucknell's contests last year. Though numbers indicate that the midfield is where Bucknell has the most depth, Flynn believes that the greatest competition for playing time will be among the defenders.
"We have more defenders than attackers, and there are lots of people who can play," said Flynn.
She expects Schuster and Kremer to be defensive midfielders, adding to Hafets' efforts and those of regular starter Rachel Prowler. Senior Mia Donahue, returning to play this season after missing all of 2003 on the injured list, will complement Bucknell's defenders along with fellow senior Maura White, junior Annie Greenspun, sophomore Jennifer Osborn and freshman Shauna Weinstein.
GOALKEEPERS
The goalkeeper position will be another important area for the Bison to shore up, as Mary-Elizabeth McDaniel looks to resume where the graduated Nicole Kallis left off. McDaniel played just 66 minutes last season, over three games with one start. But Flynn believes that McDaniel can play the role.
"Lizzy has improved tremendously since last season. She comes early to practice and has worked extra sessions in addition to her participation in our fitness program. Goalies don't have to run around much during games, but Lizzy makes sure she's as fit as anyone on the team," said Flynn. McDaniel will be backed up by Kristin Gaines, a freshman out of Englewood, Colo.
THE SCHEDULE
The Bison have 14 games on the schedule, following a February trip to Loyola (Md.) College for scrimmages. Bucknell will have its first four games at home in the first half of March, as Howard, Wagner Virginia Tech, and league rival American come to Lewisburg.
The team will then head to Florida for one against Columbia, then go on the road for three straight at Lafayette, Holy Cross and Harvard to close the month of March.
Bucknell will have four of six at home to close out the regular season in the month of April. Denver, Colgate, Drexel and Lehigh come to Lewisburg, while La Salle and Villanova will bring the Bison to the Philadelphia area. The Patriot League Tournament will be held May 1-2 at the home field of the first-place team at the end of the regular season.
