Tribe Lacrosse Season Outlook

02/11/08 6:20PM

Williamsburg - As Tribe Lacrosse moves into the final week of preparation for the 2008 season ahead of Sunday's opener at home against Binghamton, TribeAthletics.com will be featuring a number of preview items this week leading up to the opener.

Today, the 2008 season outlook can be found below, as well as a photo gallery from today's frigid practice at the Dillard complex. Tuesday, the 2008 Tribe Lacrosse media guide will be posted online, and look for short interviews with coaches and players later in the week, as well as more practice photos.

Spring Practice Gallery 1 (2/11/08)

2008 Tribe Lacrosse Season Outlook

Entering the 2007 season, uncertainty surrounded the Tribe Lacrosse program as first-year head coach Christine Halfpenny began implementing the components of a new era to ultimately make her vision for the direction of the program a reality. Add in the annual challenging schedule and a number of injuries to key players and the result was an adverse 3-13 season.

But, despite the disappointing outcome, the 2007 team began laying a foundation for success, evidenced by the Tribe’s stunning upset of then ninth-ranked rival James Madison at Albert-Daly Field late in the season.

Now, in its second season under Halfpenny, Tribe Lacrosse presents 14 returning players, six returning starters, and Halfpenny’s initial nine-member recruiting class, who collectively make up a 2008 team improving daily and continuing to raise expectations.

A look on paper shows the youth of the team with 14 underclassmen, however the talent, skill and game sense of the young group cannot be underestimated following the team’s training trip to Australia over winter break. Coupled with the fact that nearly the entire group of sophomores saw significant game action last season, the underclassmen won’t be the ordinary group of freshmen and sophomores.

“The immediate impact the newcomers made in the fall and in Australia was noticed by all, and they continue to raise the bar at each practice,” Halfpenny said.

But, what has Halfpenny and the staff most excited entering the spring is the chemistry and synergy between the younger players and older returning players witnessed on the trip to Australia and since.

“We have an outstanding balance between personalities and backgrounds. You can see it off the field and you can see it on the field in practice every day.

“I have been most impressed with the challenging environment the team has built. Each day, our team is working hard to make one another better.”

Leading the way is the trio of captains in seniors Jaime Sellers and Ashley Bolton and junior Kate Lawlor.

“The three captains are each outstanding role models to our younger players,” said Halfpenny. “As a group, they work hard on the field and continuously work with the coaching staff to better themselves and the team.”

Sellers leads the midfield, while Bolton and Lawlor anchor an experienced defense, along with returning CAA All-Rookie team goalkeeper Sara Beckstead. On attack, a dynamic mix of returning players and newcomers will be at the forefront. Together, the 2008 team has the talent and potential to succeed and will continue to build the new era of Tribe Lacrosse.

Attack
At the offensive end, where chemistry is vital for success, a trio of returning players and a nice mix of new faces have come together during fall practice and the Australia trip. The leader of the unit is junior Julia Martin, whose understanding of the offense and poise on the field should generate a breakout season. Martin has the vision and stick skills to set up her teammates from anywhere on the field and has grown into a more dynamic player.

Katie Delaney gained valuable experience last season starting five games as a freshman and has shown great improvement during workouts and practices.

Junior Dolly Williams is a proven goal scorer with starting experience who will also give the unit depth and a veteran presence.

One of the new faces in the attack is junior transfer Kari Fasick, who joins the Tribe after playing two seasons at Ohio before the program was ended prior to 2007. Fasick is a hard worker and has proven ability to create offense and score.

Freshmen Ashley Holofcener and Maggie Anderson have shown quick adjustments to the collegiate game and each will have large roles. Holofcener had an impressive string of games in Australia and is a slippery offensive threat who can find the net and create for herself and others. Anderson has great size and power at the position and is one of the team’s best shooters already.

While not a new face, redshirt freshman Kristin Anderson will be in the offensive mix for the first time after missing the entire 2007 season with a wrist injury. Anderson continues to work back and build strength and gives the unit further depth.

Midfield
Speed, depth and game knowledge define the midfield, which is perhaps the most exciting area of the team behind Sellers, a Second-Team All-CAA selection and the team’s leading scorer in 2007. Sellers has put in a tremendous amount of work in the offseason to better her game, and while the senior scored a goal in each of the team’s 16 games last season, bigger things could be in store.

Junior Clare Dennis has come into her own during the offseason, and the coaching staff is anticipating a big year. Dennis started seven games as a sophomore, scoring eight goals and is a quick, tenacious defender as well, having caused 10 turnovers last season.

A pair of sophomores in Katie Rees and Annie Macomber bolster the position, adding experience and depth. Rees is an attack minded midfielder who started eight games last season and scored 10 goals, while Macomber gives the unit both a scoring threat and presence in the defensive end.

Another sophomore Mary Zulty is an addition to the midfield after primarily playing on attack as a freshman. Zulty has great stick skills and has stepped into her new role, showing a tremendous improvement, which was noted with the team’s MVP award for the games played in Australia.

A fare share of the excitement in the midfield has been generated by a trio of freshmen, starting with Grace Golden. One of the team’s fastest players, Golden brings a good understanding of the game and has strong skill sets to be both an impact offensive threat and defender. Kaitlyn Gambrell and Molly Wannen bring a defensive background to the midfield and both were impressive during the Australia trip. The pair also have the skills and speed to be offensive threats.

Defense
An area where the team might be the deepest is on defense behind Bolton and Lawlor. Bolton is a three-year starter who will continue to play a major role in match-up defense, though her knowledge of team defense is what leads the group. An all-conference candidate, Bolton has great instincts on the back line and also plays with an offensive mind set that aids the team’s transition game.

Lawlor had a breakout season in 2007, starting all 16 games. She continues to improve and showed the ability to direct the unit with outstanding communication and initiative in Australia.

After using a medical redshirt season in 2007, Lauren Coll has made a strong comeback since returning to the field in the fall. With good size and awareness, Coll brings more game experience and perspective to the position that will only help the unit improve.

Senior Caitlin deMello is also coming back from an injury, after going down in the opening game at Duke last season with an injury that caused her to miss the final 15 games. deMello has a good understanding of the team defense and adds to the depth of the unit.

The freshman duo of Emma Starnes and Sarah Jonson round out the defense, and the staff expects both to make an immediate impact in their rookie seasons. The pair bring excellent basketball backgrounds and all-around athleticism that translated well in the adjustment to the college game. Both Starnes and Jonson have shown the ability to match-up one-on-one, while also understanding the team defense concept.

Goalkeepers
An area where the Tribe is at its strongest in years and that further adds to the potential of the defense is in goal. Beckstead is back after a tremendous freshman season in which she was one of the team’s defensive leaders. The sophomore showed the ability to keep the team in games at times with pressure situation saves and made a commitment to improving her game in the offseason. With increasing confidence and a more dynamic presence in the cage, Beckstead has developed into an all-conference caliber goalkeeper.

But, Beckstead will battle talented freshman Emily Geary for the starting job in the spring. Geary helped lead the U.S. Under-19 National Team to the world championship over the summer, showing the ability to raise her game and keep opposing teams off the scoreboard. Geary has tremendous athleticism at the position and solid fundamentals, which gives Halfpenny two outstanding options in net. The competition has not only helped both netminders improve their individual games, but it has helped the offensive players improve their shooting.