EXPERIENCED SAINTS SQUAD READY FOR 2008 SEASON

Mar. 5: The. Lawrence women’s lacrosse team will rely heavily on their experience and speed to improve upon last year’s fifth place finish in the Liberty League and earn a conference tournament berth in their 2008 campaign, which is now scheduled for a Friday opener at Nazareth after Tuesday's game against Oswego in Syracuse was postponed.

“We have all of the field talent a team could want,” says Saints Head Coach Jodi Canfield, who is entering her ninth season at the helm of the women’s lacrosse program. “The depth and experience we have in each position, coupled with an energetic and talented first-year class, will prove to be the key components in making this season a successful one.”

The Saints lost a few players to graduation but are returning several key contributors to their starting line-up, while their bench continues to grow and provide support. In 2007, the Saints were 6-8 overall and 3-5 in the Liberty League conference, tying with Rochester for fifth place. In addition to the Saints’ returning players, the squad is enjoying the company of ten first-year players who look to only strengthen the program.

Attack

St. Lawrence will look to seniors and co-captains Alanna Waters ( Darien, CT/Taft School) and Liz Skinner ( Liverpool, NY/ Liverpool) to lead the squad. Sophomores Mary Jane Sweetland ( Hopewell, NJ/Stuart Country Day) and Katrina Knickerbocker (Clinton Corners, NY/The Gunnery) will also provide stability to the front lines for the Saints. Junior Brittany Misercola ( Watertown, NY/ Watertown) will be key off the bench for the Saints in both the low attack and low defense positions.

“Our attack has a lot of speed and experience this season,” says Canfield. “Because of our depth up front, we can look to the bench and call on anyone to take a spot on the field.”

A strong first-year class, including Eileen Carroll ( Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley Central), Kim Cooper (Wolfeboro, NH/Brewster Academy), and Bianca Chevallard ( Miami, FL/ St. George’s), will also be looking for substantial offensive playing time.

Midfield

Versatility defines the Saints’ midfield, as Canfield describes the group as well balanced players. “The midfielders have a lot of speed and are a strong unit. They will contribute a great deal offensively without sacrificing anything defensively.”

The midfield will be guided by junior Amanda Forbes ( Glens Falls, NY/ Glens Falls), who was the Saints’ high scorer in 2007. Sophomores Lexi Wisnowski ( Middlebury, VT/Middlebury Union), Meggie Quackenbush ( Canton, NY/Hugh C. Williams), and Julie Wooters ( New Canaan, CT/ New Canaan) will also be strong assets to St. Lawrence in the position, while classmate Dana Miller (Weybridge, VT/Middlebury Union) will also be looking to contribute.

First-year midfielders vying for a spot on the field includes Kim Morse (Peaks Island, ME/North Yarmouth Academy), Kelsey Redpath (Norwich, VT/Hanover High), Hannah Corkery (Salisbury, CT/Holderness School), and Kaitlyn Fahsel (Watertown, NY/South Jefferson). Fahsel is a two-sport athlete for St. Lawrence and was a standout on the Saints’ women’s soccer team earlier in the fall, leading her class in scoring.

Defense

Senior co-captain Michaela Wipfler ( Portland, ME/Deering High) will anchor the Scarlet and Brown’s defense with the help of classmate Stephanie Walter ( Syracuse, NY/Nottingham High). Sophomores Anna Parrott ( Concord, MA/Holderness School) and Courtney Hendrick ( Newton, MA/Newton North) will also contribute, as Canfield describes her defenders as extremely experienced. First-year Elizabeth Short (Manlius, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) will hope to add something to St. Lawrence’s defense throughout her rookie season. First-year Carolyn Levine (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford-Mendon) who is currently injured, will also be a contributor to the Saints in the back.

In goal, the Saints have named rookie Anna Marchand ( Concord, MA/Middlesex School) as the starting goalie for the season. Marchand suffered from an ACL injury earlier this year during fall ball, but that did not interfere with her abilities come the spring. “We are confident and excited about how solid Anna looks in the net,” Canfield says.

Sophomores Lizzy Freund ( Quechee, VT/Kimball Union Academy) and Emiko Bennett ( Charlotte, VT/Champlain Valley Union) will also look for some time in the net for the Saints.

The Saints’ season will begin with five non-league contests, which includes nationally-ranked Nazareth College. In the Liberty League, St. Lawrence will battle with William Smith, Hamilton, and Union, all three of which are ranked in the top 20 in the country, as well as Clarkson, Rensselaer, Rochester, Skidmore and Vassar.

St. Lawrence will travel to Oswego, NY to face the Lakers on Tuesday, March 8. The game is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m.

THREE SAINTS, 2007 SQUAD NAMED ALL-ACADEMIC,

CANFIELD NAMES 2008 CAPTAINS

Aug. 21: The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaching Association (IWLCA) announced their Honor Roll and All-Academic Teams for the 2007 season, and three Saints, as well as the entire 2007 squad, earned spots on each list.

St. Lawrence had three individuals named to the Honor Roll: Rebecca “Becky” Timbers ’07, Liz Skinner ’08, and Stephanie Walter ’08, while the team earned All-Academic honors because of the squad’s cumulative GPA. In Division III, 187 women were named to the Honor Roll, and only 41 Division III teams were named All-Academic Teams, according to the IWLCA. To qualify as an All-Academic team, a squad must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Jodi Canfield, head coach for the women’s team, also announced the team captains for 2008: Skinner, Alanna Waters ’08, and Michaela Wipfler ’08 will lead the Saints in their 2008 campaign.

Skinner, a Liverpool, NY native and an attack for the Saints, only played in six games last season due to an injury. “[Liz] will look to continue her leadership on the field after an elbow injury last year sidelined her for most of the season,” Canfield said.  “Throughout the time she was injured, she remained positive, and she has great ideas for team building.”

Wipfler, from Portland, ME, is a second season captain who played in every game in 2007 and will return for her fourth year as a starter on defense. “Michaela is a defensive leader on the field,” Canfield said. “She has a serious determination to have a winning program.” 

Waters, an attack from Darien, CT, was the third-highest scorer for the squad during the 2007 season, having 21 goals and 6 assists for a total of 27 points. “Even though a late-season injury sidelined her for three games, Alanna remained positive and a strong leader both on and off the field,” Canfield said.  “She will be a dominant offensive threat this season."

“As a group, these three will be outstanding captains,” Canfield says.  “We are looking forward to starting fall ball and striving to have a successful season.”