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In 2004 the Lady Eagles
lacrosse team went 8-7 overall and 7-5 in the PSAC finishing
fourth after a PSAC Semifinal loss.
In 2005 the Haven will look to
take their No. 8 ranking to the next step with a youthful,
but experienced team.
Head
Coach Kristen Selvage, who enters her fourth season
at the helm of the Lady Eagles, is very excited about this
team’s prospects.
The Lady
Eagles will again rely heavily on an offense that scored 200
goals a year ago and remains virtually intact. This year’s
team also features a much-improved defense that could rival
the success of last year’s squad.
The
offense will be led this season by senior tri-captain
Diana Strizki (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central)
and sophomore midfielder Jenna Richter (Long
Valley, N.J./West Morris).
Strizki, who picked up her second-consecutive first team all
PSAC nod, led the team in goals with 50, which placed her
fifth in the conference. She was second on the team in
assists and total points with 19 and 69, respectively.
Strizki is on pace to break the career goal record at Lock
Haven of 168 goals set by Kris Pickersgill in
1996-99. Richter, who was named 2004 conference rookie of
the year, led the team in total points with 81. She scored
41 goals which ranked her second on the squad and notched 41
assists, which is a Lock Haven single-season record. She
also ranked third in the conference and fourth in the nation
in assists per game (2.35).
Also in
the mix on attack will be Kim Penuel
(Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley), who Selvage says
is “stronger than ever” after being forced to redshirt last
season due to an injury. In only three games, she notched
six points (3 g, 3 a). Along with Penuel, sophomore
Lindsay Rentel (Medford
Lakes, N.J./Shawnee)
returns to support the offense. Rentel will be looked upon
to make more of an impact this season. In 2004, she played
in six games, registering two goals and one assist.
Sophomore Lindsey McGuire (Lanoka
Harbor, N.J./West Morris)
saw action in ten games scoring two goals and adding one
assist. Freshman Caitlyn Watts (Willow
Grove, Pa./Archbishop Wood)
will also look to make an immediate impact on the offense.
The Haven
midfield will be led by a trio of sophomores including
Shannon Houck (Gilbertsville,
Pa./Boyertown),
Stephanie Wood (Long
Valley, N.J./West Morris)
and Mandy Alderfer (Harleysville,
Pa./Souderton).
Houck, a
sophomore tri-captain will be looked upon to play a key role
in the attacking midfield for the Haven. Selvage calls the
2004 first-team selection one of the best athletes she has
coached. In 2004, Houck registered 13 goals and seven
assists. Wood, who was a second-team selection as a
freshman; will play more of a defensive midfield position.
In 2004 she notched ten points including six goals and four
assists, while raking up a team-high 46 ground balls.
Alderfer, who scored 29 goals and added five assists in
2004, will look to do more of the same this season.
Also
returning to the midfield is sophomore Katie Kenney
(Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) who scored two goals last
season.
Several
freshmen will be looking to make in impact in the Haven
midfield including Samantha Stoyer (Lancaster,
Pa./Manheim Township),
Rachael Williams (Gettysburg,
Pa./Catoctin),
Caitlin LaBonte (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) and Heather
Eggleston (Lancaster,
Pa./Manheim Township).
The Haven
defense will be led by seniors Laura Baranski (Collingswood,
N.J./Collingswood)
and Kim Hedden (Long
Valley, N.J./West Morris).
Selvage feels that Baranski and Hedden will be key players
because of their ability to play well together. Baranski, a
tri-captain, was a second team all-conference selection a
year ago. She had a team-best 22 caused turnovers in 16
games a year ago. Hedden will help anchor a solid defensive
unit after seeing action in 16 games last season.
Freshman
Christina Fried (Pine Brook, N.J./Monteville) will
look to make an impact on the defensive side.
Another
strong point for the Lady Eagles this season will be in the
net. The Lady Eagles return sophomore Christie Dunning (Ivyland,
Pa./Central Bucks East), who saw the majority of the
action between the pipes in 2004, playing in 13 games,
starting nine. Dunning made 94 saves and had a GAA of 9.72.
Redshirt-Freshman
Kimberly Allan (Pottstown,
Pa./Pottstown) will
create a competition in net for the Haven. Both goalies
have a chance of seeing time, with no clear cut favorite
yet, which is a dilemma that does not upset Selvage.
The Lady
Eagles start the season Thursday, March 10 on the road
against Merrimack College in Hilton Head, S.C. at 7 p.m.
They follow that up with two more road games before making
their home debut on Saturday, March 19 at 1 p.m. versus
Shippensburg University.
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