Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Lacrosse Team Looks to Build on Strong 2006 Finish
2/21/2007 7:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Feb. 21, 2007
After finishing the 2006 regular season with a five-game winning streak, followed by the program's third trip to the Patriot League Tournament, the Bucknell women's lacrosse team aims to improve even further on last season's late success.
Under the direction of third-year head coach Jess Spadafora, the Bison return seven starters and 17 letterwinners from last year's squad, which opened the season with two wins, then lost nine in a row, then won five straight by a combined 72-22 margin before falling to Holy Cross in the league tournament.
Among the returnees are 2006 leading scorer Sarah Collins and veteran two-way threats Lauren Kremer and Lauren Deitrich. Gone are Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Rachel Prowler and starting goalie Lizzie McDaniel, but an infusion of talented newcomers should help compensate for those big graduation losses.
After an impressive 14-10 exhibition victory over Navy at Graham Field on Tuesday, the Bison officially kick off the 2007 campaign on the road on Friday night against defending America East regular-season champion UMBC. Bucknell then visits No. 14 Penn State next Wednesday before opening its home slate on March 3 against Robert Morris.
Still in search of its first-ever Patriot League title, Bucknell was picked third behind Holy Cross and Colgate in this year's preseason poll. The Bison even garnered a first-place vote.
With the start of the season just days away, here is a position-by-position look at the 2007 Bison women's lacrosse squad.
ATTACK
Bucknell should have many scoring options in the offensive third of the field this spring. Leading the attack will be sophomore Sarah Collins, who led Bucknell in points (41) and assists (13) as a freshman last season en route to Second Team All-Patriot League honors. Collins, who had a 10-point game against American in the regular-season finale, was also second on the team in goals with 28, and with a full year under her belt, she will be a threat opponents will have to contend with.
"Sarah is a great scoring threat in the offensive end," said Spadafora. "She sees the play, looks at the field like a basketball point guard and develops the play for herself and for other attackers."
Juniors Ashley Flood and Elizabeth Whipple, who were abroad for the fall season, have rejoined the Orange and Blue for the spring campaign and will lend depth to the Bucknell attack. Flood collected two goals and one assist for three points last seas, while Whipple picked up three goals and two assists for five points.
Sophomores Bridget LaCroix and Katlyn Recchia will also look to contribute up front. LaCroix was sidelined with an ACL injury last season after appearing in the first eight games. In the fall season, LaCroix proved that she can still be a key player on the attack. Recchia, who played defense a year ago,will debut on the attack this season.
"We are looking forward to seeing Katlyn's wicked shot on offense," commented Spadafora.
Freshman Carol Donahue, an outstanding scorer and feeder, started against Navy and logged two goals and one assist. Rookie Paige Kasschau, who ranked among the Bison leaders in goals in the fall season, will also likely play a significant role.
MIDFIELD
In the center of the field sophomore Bonnie Buechel, a First Team All-Patriot League choice as a freshman, will be expected to build on her success from a season ago. Buechel started all 17 games last season, scoring 24 goals and assisting on 10 others for a total of 34 points, which ranked third on the squad.
"We expect to see major things from Bonnie this spring," replied Spadafora. "She has sharp stick work along with a lethal check on defense and is armed with a laser of a shot."
Joining Buechel will be freshman Alison Heffernan, a speedy middie who started the Navy scrimmage and scored a game-high four goals. Senior Erin Weinstein, sophomore Casan Van Langen and freshman Chelsea Peters will look to add depth and energy to what should be a much stronger and faster midfield corps. Weinstein played in all 17 games last season and netted five goals to go along with five assists for 10 points, while Van Langen tallied four goals and assisted on two others for six points.
In the defensive midfield, tri-captains Lauren Kremer, Shauna Weinstein and Lauren Deitrich make this unit one of the Patriot League's best. Kremer, a senior, who was tabbed Second Team All-Patriot League last year, ranked fifth on the squad in points (17), goals (11) and assists (6). Defensively, she also collected 29 ground balls and was second-best on the team in draw controls with 25. Deitrich, a junior, was also a Second Team All-League performer a season ago and netted nine goals while assisting on seven others for a total of 16 points. She led the Bison in ground balls and draw controls with 46 and 29, respectively, and caused 29 turnovers.
"Lauren Kremer and Lauren Deitrich, both leaders in all of our possession categories last season, will look to do the same this year," said Spadafora. "They have already made a vast impact in the league with their terrific ball handling and tenacity all over the field. Shauna Weinstein, who is also a senior, has become one of the league's best defenders in the midfield. With her face-guarding ability and speed, she will be a defensive threat for opposing teams."
In addition, freshmen Stephanie Stevens and Erin Turner will add depth and speed while also helping the Bison move the ball at a quicker pace on the field.
DEFENSE
With the absence of three-time All-Patriot League defender and 2006 PL Defensive Player of the Year Rachel Prowler, Bucknell will look to sophomores Catherine Barry, Alex Radebaugh, Nikki Chacosky, Jen Chalavoutis and Alex Hulme to fill the void. All five players were part of a strong defensive group that ended the season allowing just 22 goals
over the final five regular-season games.
Barry and Radebaugh have excellent stick skills and are very confident and intimidating low defenders. Barry appeared in all 17 games, including 14 starts, and caused 12 turnovers and collected 15 ground balls, while Radebaugh saw action in 15 matches and tallied 19 ground balls. Freshmen Kendall Thibeault and Katie Fox will look to step in and add depth to the defense.
In goal for the Bison will be freshman Katie Hartsock, who in the fall proved that she could take on the challenge of filling the vacant spot left by All-Patriot League performer Lizzy McDaniel.
"Katie has the mentality of no other keeper that we have ever seen," replied Spadafora. "She knows what has to be done and comes out every day with a positive outlook, challenging herself as well as her offensive teammates to be better players."
Chacosky, who volunteered to help out at the goalkeeper position and has proven to have a knack for it, will back up Hartsock between the pipes.
"Having had the opportunity to work with this team during the fall and see the talent and ability that is contained in this squad, I feel we are in a great position to be one of the top teams in the Patriot League," remarked Spadafora. We have some great finishers on the offense, speed in the midfield and strong powerful defenders. I feel the pieces really are in place to compete for the championship this year."
