Experience dominates Gettysburg College women's lacrosse roster

For more than a decade, the Gettysburg College women's lacrosse team has maintained its status as one of the premier programs in NCAA Division III.

Since the 2000 season, Gettysburg has won more than 80 percent of its contests. The Bullets have been to the NCAA Division III tournament 12 times and have won the Centennial Conference title seven times. The squad also captured the school's first NCAA title in 2011.

The Bullets will look to carry on that tradition in 2013, when 21 letterwinners return for head coach Carol Cantele's 21st season.

Cantele, who is one of seven women's lacrosse coaches all-time with more than 300 career victories, said, "We have been a success because each player has worked hard to fulfill her role. Every player has to be willing to be a difference maker."

Last spring, Gettysburg finished 19-2 and claimed the Centennial title for the first time since 2006. The team was unable to defend its 2011 national title, however, by falling to Middlebury College in the quarterfinals.

Many of the components that made up last year's team return in 2013.

However, the team will be without All-Americans Hannah Church and Maddie Coleman, as well as all-conference defender Lexi Kelly. Church was named the Attacker of the Year by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association after netting a team-best 97 points last spring.

"We don't except to replace them," Cantele said, "but we are seeing many players from last year that are playing

with more confidence and they are recognizing that it is their time to shine."

Among the players looking to continue the tradition are 13 seniors and juniors that were members of the 2011 national championship team.

At the forefront of that leadership core are senior co-captains Lindsey Robinson, Lindsay Menton and Kat Nestor. Robinson is a returning All-American, landing a third-team spot a year ago. Menton enters the year with 40 points and 34 caused turnovers in her career. Nestor has bounced back from a torn ACL as a freshman to emerge as the leader of the defensive unit.

"The upperclassmen are doing a fantastic job of instilling the work ethic that is required at this level," Cantele said.

On the attack, Robinson will have proven goal scorers. Among those individuals, juniors Loren Pruitt, Kelsey Markiewicz and Katie Blumenthal and sophomore Bridget Kenny have done the most damage to opposing goals. Markiewicz and Pruitt were each named All-Centennial Conference last season.

Cantele also expects significant contributions on the attack from junior Bailey Beardsley and sophomores Mandy Buell and Liz Cocchiola.

Senior Hayward Sawers and junior Kelly Spieker are the team's top returners in the midfield. Sawers finished with 49 ground balls, 23 caused turnovers and 18 assists last fall.

Julia Shackleton will also be a strong contender for time after an injury-shortened freshman campaign.

Defensively, Nestor will join forces with senior Alex Casey to form a formidable 1-2 punch. Casey was a second-team All-American and first-team all-conference selection last season after leading the unit with 27 caused turnovers.

Senior Mairead McGuirk looks to resume starting duties for the third consecutive season. McGuirk has totaled 112 draw controls over the last two seasons.

Remaining returning defenders include junior Paige McKenna and sophomores Chelsea Reed, Allie Clark and Gretchen Boehmcke.

One area that will see a new mask is in goal. Coleman finished among the national leaders in both goals-against average and save percentage in her final season.

A pair of freshmen will challenge senior Ally Duggan, who saw time in five contests last spring.

In the media's eyes, the expectations are already set for Gettysburg. The team was picked as the favorite to win the Centennial Conference.

Cantele said, "Right now, we are focusing on the more important matters such as fundamentals, creating a strong work environment at practice, and competing amongst ourselves on Clark Field."

Gettysburg kicks off the season at home against the University of Mary Washington at 4 p.m. Thursday.

Source: http://www.eveningsun.com/localsports/ci_22610079/experience-dominates-gettysburg-college-womens-lacrosse-roster?source=rss

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