LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The No. 4 Lock Haven University lacrosse team is set to kick off its 2009 season tomorrow (Wednesday, March 4) and the Lady Eagles are looking for big things this season as they once again head into the new season tabbed as one of the nation’s premier teams in all of NCAA Division II lacrosse.
Lock Haven is currently ranked No. 4 in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA)/Under Armour Poll.
LHU has also been picked to finish first in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division.
2009 is a historic year for Lock Haven, as it marks the 30th anniversary of Lock Haven’s only women’s lacrosse national championship. The Lady Eagles won the 1979 United States Women’s Lacrosse Association Division II National Championship.
LHU head coach Kristen Selvage, who is in her eighth season at the helm of the program hopes that Lock Haven can spark up a little of that ’79-magic and make it another banner year in The Haven.
Selvage certainly has the team to do just that and make some noise, as the Lady Eagles are loaded with talent and have set the bar high, aiming to hit their lofty goals.
Two of Lock Haven’s biggest strengths this year will be its team-speed on the field and depth on the bench.
Speed, particularly in the midfield in LHU’s transition game will prove to be a huge key for Selvage, who also has a deep bench loaded with players, whom can step on the field and play. That depth is something the Lady Eagles haven’t had in the past and it’s a strength that could help carry this team to the top.
Selvage says one of this team’s best characteristics is its ability to rise to the occasion and she credits solid team leadership for that.
“This team demands that the bar is set higher and they’ve taken the focus to a whole new level,” Selvage said. “We have more leaders on the field this year.”
A huge key for LHU is the return of 2008 All-Americans Leigh Titus (Towaco, N.J./Montville) and Katie Zichelli (South Orange, N.J./Columbia) along with 2008 All-PSAC first-teamer Amber Hoch (Souderton, Pa./Souderton).
Lock Haven has always been a team that can fill the net with goals and that trend won’t end this year, but The Haven will be solid up and down the field every position and face of the game.
Along with solid midfield play, the Lady Eagles will field an all-around solid defensive unit.
Selvage also has a trio of goalies, all of whom could see team in the cage.
ATTACK:
Returning to lead the attack is sophomores Jamie Uzialko (Lima, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) and Kari Sielksi (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial).
Uzialko had a sensational rookie season, scoring 27 goals and adding eights assists. She netted a pair of game-winners in ’08. Sielski also played tremendous during her first season with The Haven posting a 30-point season. She scored 20 goals to go along with 10 assists.
Both players will be counted on to lead the attack this year by scoring big goals for LHU.
Sophomores Alex Cross (Owego, N.Y./Owego) and Allison Berger (Oreland, Pa./Springfield) both return and will have an impact on offense for LHU.
Freshman Kayleigh Johnson (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) will look to make an immediate impact and is a tremendously talented player, according to Selvage.
MIDFIELD:
Leading the way for LHU in the midfield will be Titus and Hoch.
Titus, a junior picked up All-American honors after a sensational year last season. She scored 72 goals and recorded 24 assist. Titus netted three game-winners and her 96-point season was second-best on the team.
Titus, will be a huge factor for LHU as she’ll be counted on to do it all. She brings tremendous speed to the field and that will be one of The Haven’s biggest key’s in midfield.
Hoch, a senor is a proven goal-scorer for LHU and this year she’ll be asked to help control the flow of the game from the midfield. Last year she scored 48 goals and assisted on 29 others. Her 77-point season runs her career total to 212 points, which is fifth-best on the school’s all-time list.
Freshmen Kate Smyth (Levittown, Pa./Pennsbury), Clare Gaeng (Frederick, Md./Governor Thomas Jefferson) and Jackie Macone (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) will all look to make an immediate impact on the midfield as all are complete-players.
DEFENSE:
The Haven’s sensational defensive until will be key this season. Lock Haven will offer the complete package on defense as it will feature an athletic and versatile unit.
Leading the defensive effort will be Zichelli, an All-American last season as a true-freshman and sophomore Katie McConnell (Cinnaminson, N.J./Holy Cross) along with junior Krystalle Neighbor (Dunellen, N.J./Rutgers Prep.).
Zichelli was phenomenal on defense during her rookie season last year. She started all 19 games for LHU and recorded a team-high 66 grounds balls and caused 21 turnovers. Zichelli also chipped in on the offensive side with seven goals and five assists.
McConnell, also started all 19 games as rookie scooped up 42 ground balls, while netting a pair of goals.
Neighbor, a two-year starter returns to help anchor the defense after starting every game last year. She had 42 grounds and adds a passionate force to the defense.
The three players combined to give LHU a dominate defense package.
Looking to make an immediate impact is Elyse Fisher (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial).
GOALKEEPERS:
The Lady Eagles have a trio of net minders that will help solidify the backline for LHU.
Leading the way is freshman Heather Sacko (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) and junior Kira Nuttall (Baltimore/Loch Raven).
Sacko gives LHU a tremendously solid force in the cage as her biggest strength is the ability to take care of the ball. Selvage calls her calm between the pipes.
Nuttall, who’s started the majority of games for The Haven in each of the last two seasons returns to give Lock Haven a tremendous 1-2 punch in net. Last year she made 193 stops and has the ability to make the game-changing save at any time.
Freshman Nicole Necci (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) adds depth to the goalies spot and she could step on the field at any time and win games for Lock Haven.
The Lady Eagles have big plans for ’09 after finishing as PSAC Finalists a year ago.
Selvage says this team is focused on making a run at the PSAC title and a National Championship, the same double that the 1979 team pulled off thirty years ago this spring.
LHU kicks off the 2009 season tomorrow (Wednesday, March 4) at Converse College. The game is set for a 4 p.m. start.
--
