Saturday, February 18
Washington, D.C.
12:00 p.m.
Davidson College
at
American
Davidson Lax Primed for 2012 Season, Opens at American on Saturday
2/13/2012 3:51:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
Gavin McFarlin - Assistant SID
2012 Schedule
2012 Roster
2012 Media Guide (pdf)
Find Your Favorite Wildcat Action Shot at DavidsonPhotos.com
DAVIDSON, N.C. — The Davidson women's lacrosse team looks to cap off its final year in the National Lacrosse Conference with a championship title when the Wildcats open their 2012 season on Saturday, Feb. 18, at American.
The 'Cats and Eagles battle for the 11th time with American holding a 9-2 all-time record when both teams matchup at 12 p.m. in Washington, D.C. Davidson is looking to snap a two-game skid on opening day, with their last win coming in 2009 at home vs. C.W. Post, 16-11.
Davidson's home opener will be Saturday, Feb. 25, when it welcomes Navy to town for a 12 p.m. contest at Richardson Stadium.
In anticipation of the 2012 season, below is a look at the Season Preview....
Heading into their fourth season under head coach Kim Wayne, the 2012 Davidson lacrosse squad looks to improve on its 6-12 mark a year ago (4-3 in the National Lacrosse Conference- NLC)). They advanced to the NLC semifinals for the second year and will once again host the tournament.
The Wildcats graduated four seniors, including Lily Graham who was the NLC Defender of the Year in both 2009 and 2010, but bring back a strong core from last year's squad including their top-six scorers.
At the helm with Wayne will be the Wildcats' three captains: seniors Erin Keitel and Jenna Mugele and junior Alanna Parker. The 'Cats will rely upon their leadership and experience to assimilate another freshman class of seven first-year players.
What are some key factors for the team's success this season?
Coach Wayne: “Our goal going into the season is finding a way to control the tempo of the game while possessing the ball on attack. Having lost four starting defenders to graduation, our leadership and experience lies on our attacking end - we hope to capitalize on that.”
2011 Quick Review
Last season, Davidson went 6-12 (4-3 NLC). The 'Cats picked up an 11-6 win vs. Liberty to open the NCL Tournament, but fell to Jacksonville, 19-7, in the semifinals.
For the second year in a row senior defender Graham took home one of the top honors from the NLC garnering Defender of the Year. The senior had been a staple in the Wildcat lineup the last three years starting 52 straight games. She forced a team and career-best 23 turnovers in 2011 and hauled in 28 groundballs.
Joining Graham on the All-NLC First Team was sophomore Parker and freshman Ann Fucigna, while sophomore defender Erin McGuire was named to the league's second team.
You bring back all six of your top scorers, including All-NLC First Teamers Ann Fucigna and Alanna Parker. What do you expect from the attack and how are you hoping to see it develop this year?
Coach Wayne: “This is a new year for us with seven new faces which means players may take on different roles. I'm excited to see how well rounded and balanced our offense is going to be. What impressed me the most about last year's stats is that six out of seven of our starting attackers we're in double digits in goals. I would like to see the same (or even better) from this year's squad. It's easier to be competitive when you don't have to rely on just two players to score.”
Senior Class
The senior class consists of Keitel and Mugele, who each had solid junior campaigns. Keitel was back to 100 percent after missing all but two games as a freshman with a season-ending injury. She finished third on the team with career bests of 26 goals and 35 points, while adding a personal-best nine assists. She was honored with the team's Just Do It! Award.
Mugele has been a staple in the starting lineup since her freshman year starting 42 of her 52 games. The senior has
been very consistent on offense tallying at least 15 goals in all three years.
What has impressed you most about the senior class?
Coach Wayne: "The most important impact the two seniors have had on this team is their leadership. Our entire team looks up to them and respects them because they come to practice everyday and work harder than anyone else. They push their teammates to be better players and people. They lead by example both on the field and off. I couldn't be happier with the way these two have brought the team together. I'm confident that Jenna and Keitel will be great leaders throughout the spring.”
Offense- Midfielders & Attackers
The Wildcats return 100 percent of their offense, including all six of their double-digit goal scorers from last year. Leading the charge is the tandem of Fucigna and Parker who combined for 86 goals and 100 points.
Fucigna was one of the top freshmen last year in the NLC and finished the year on a torrid scoring pace. The first-year Wildcat led the team with 49 goals and 60 points. Fucigna's 49 goals tied the single-season record set in 2010 by Jen Crawford.
Parker has been a two-time All-NLC member, garnering second team honors as a freshman. The junior midfielder recorded 37 goals and 40 points last year as a sophomore.
In addition, midfielder Paige Logan and attacker Erin Doherty return on offense after strong first-year campaigns. Logan was fourth on the team in scoring with 21 goals, recording six games of two or more goals. She also added 22 groundballs, 21 draw controls and 15 caused turnovers.
Doherty was key in helping the offense run, dishing out a team-best 13 assists to go with her 20 goals. Her 50 draw controls were good for third-most in the NLC and she had at least one point in all but one game last year.
The junior pair of Lindsay Cooper and Jessica Palfrey will provide depth upfront after combining for 10 goals last year. Cooper also chipped in with 10 groundballs and 30 draw controls.
Rounding out the offensive returners are midfielder Liz Edwards, and attackers Carlee Simon and Natalie Williford. Edwards led the way with seven points, while Simon was close behind with three goals and a pair of assists.
Defense
The Wildcat defense will look to a new leader after the graduation of two-time NLC Defender of the Year Graham, along with Stella Davis, Lauren Vanhusen and Taylor Ketcham.
The quartet all started at least 12 games last year, with Graham and Vanhusen starting 18 and 17, respectively. Those four also combined for 82 groundballs and 42 caused turnovers in 2010.
Looking to fill the void will be juniors McGuire and Abigail Doelger, and sophomores Logan and Becca Garman. McGuire was named to the All-NLC Second Team after recording 25 groundballs, 30 draw controls and forcing five turnovers in 15 games.
Doelger, an All-NLC Academic Team member, and junior defender Morgan Tarrant played in a combined 13 games, with Doelger hauling in 13 groundballs and forcing five turnovers.
Sophomores Garman and Logan spent the fall season filling the void of last year's seniors. They took the freshmen under their wing and led the defense to fall victories over defending NLC champions High Point and NLC contender Longwood.
The final layer of the defense is junior goaltender Jessica Melby. The junior had a nice season last year as a first-year
starter. She played in all 18 games, registering 131 saves and had a 12.65 goals against average. Three times Melby had 10-plus saves, including a career-best 16 in Davidson's semifinal game vs. Jacksonville in the NLC Tournament.
There are seven freshmen again this year. Talk about what they bring to the table and how you see them fitting into the rotation and contributing this season?
Coach Wayne: “All seven freshmen have an opportunity to end up in the starting lineup, which is rare to say at this level. Katy Boyle has been our only goalkeeper this fall and has done a great job earning the respect of our defensive unit. Mary Leonard, Catherine Schmidt and Emily Rademacher are fast, deceptive and hardworking midfielders who are eager to learn and do whatever it takes to be successful. Sarah Duncan and Diane Girling are solid defenders who played almost every minute in all of our fall tournaments. They are learning to use their voices a lot more thanks to our sophomore defensive leaders Paige and Becca. Emily Cooke has the best stick on the team and is impossible to defend since she is constantly moving to get open. I'm excited to see each one step up at any given moment.”
The Schedule
Davidson opens the season on the road, Feb. 18, at American. The two teams have squared off 11 times, including the last five years straight.
The 'Cats then return home for their home opener on Feb. 25 against Navy. It will be the start of a six-game homestand where they will also host UC Davis, Vermont, St. Francis (Pa.), Siena and Lafayette. In all, the 'Cats have an 11-game home slate this year.
The Wildcats first conference game will be Mar. 24 at home vs. Presbyterian. For the second straight year Davidson will have home-field advantage in the NLC Tournament, which occurs from May 4-6.
2012 Roster
2012 Media Guide (pdf)
Find Your Favorite Wildcat Action Shot at DavidsonPhotos.com
DAVIDSON, N.C. — The Davidson women's lacrosse team looks to cap off its final year in the National Lacrosse Conference with a championship title when the Wildcats open their 2012 season on Saturday, Feb. 18, at American.
The 'Cats and Eagles battle for the 11th time with American holding a 9-2 all-time record when both teams matchup at 12 p.m. in Washington, D.C. Davidson is looking to snap a two-game skid on opening day, with their last win coming in 2009 at home vs. C.W. Post, 16-11.
Davidson's home opener will be Saturday, Feb. 25, when it welcomes Navy to town for a 12 p.m. contest at Richardson Stadium.
In anticipation of the 2012 season, below is a look at the Season Preview....
Heading into their fourth season under head coach Kim Wayne, the 2012 Davidson lacrosse squad looks to improve on its 6-12 mark a year ago (4-3 in the National Lacrosse Conference- NLC)). They advanced to the NLC semifinals for the second year and will once again host the tournament.
The Wildcats graduated four seniors, including Lily Graham who was the NLC Defender of the Year in both 2009 and 2010, but bring back a strong core from last year's squad including their top-six scorers.
What are some key factors for the team's success this season?
Coach Wayne: “Our goal going into the season is finding a way to control the tempo of the game while possessing the ball on attack. Having lost four starting defenders to graduation, our leadership and experience lies on our attacking end - we hope to capitalize on that.”
2011 Quick Review
Last season, Davidson went 6-12 (4-3 NLC). The 'Cats picked up an 11-6 win vs. Liberty to open the NCL Tournament, but fell to Jacksonville, 19-7, in the semifinals.
For the second year in a row senior defender Graham took home one of the top honors from the NLC garnering Defender of the Year. The senior had been a staple in the Wildcat lineup the last three years starting 52 straight games. She forced a team and career-best 23 turnovers in 2011 and hauled in 28 groundballs.
Joining Graham on the All-NLC First Team was sophomore Parker and freshman Ann Fucigna, while sophomore defender Erin McGuire was named to the league's second team.
You bring back all six of your top scorers, including All-NLC First Teamers Ann Fucigna and Alanna Parker. What do you expect from the attack and how are you hoping to see it develop this year?
Coach Wayne: “This is a new year for us with seven new faces which means players may take on different roles. I'm excited to see how well rounded and balanced our offense is going to be. What impressed me the most about last year's stats is that six out of seven of our starting attackers we're in double digits in goals. I would like to see the same (or even better) from this year's squad. It's easier to be competitive when you don't have to rely on just two players to score.”
Senior Class
The senior class consists of Keitel and Mugele, who each had solid junior campaigns. Keitel was back to 100 percent after missing all but two games as a freshman with a season-ending injury. She finished third on the team with career bests of 26 goals and 35 points, while adding a personal-best nine assists. She was honored with the team's Just Do It! Award.
Mugele has been a staple in the starting lineup since her freshman year starting 42 of her 52 games. The senior has
What has impressed you most about the senior class?
Coach Wayne: "The most important impact the two seniors have had on this team is their leadership. Our entire team looks up to them and respects them because they come to practice everyday and work harder than anyone else. They push their teammates to be better players and people. They lead by example both on the field and off. I couldn't be happier with the way these two have brought the team together. I'm confident that Jenna and Keitel will be great leaders throughout the spring.”
Offense- Midfielders & Attackers
The Wildcats return 100 percent of their offense, including all six of their double-digit goal scorers from last year. Leading the charge is the tandem of Fucigna and Parker who combined for 86 goals and 100 points.
Fucigna was one of the top freshmen last year in the NLC and finished the year on a torrid scoring pace. The first-year Wildcat led the team with 49 goals and 60 points. Fucigna's 49 goals tied the single-season record set in 2010 by Jen Crawford.
Parker has been a two-time All-NLC member, garnering second team honors as a freshman. The junior midfielder recorded 37 goals and 40 points last year as a sophomore.
In addition, midfielder Paige Logan and attacker Erin Doherty return on offense after strong first-year campaigns. Logan was fourth on the team in scoring with 21 goals, recording six games of two or more goals. She also added 22 groundballs, 21 draw controls and 15 caused turnovers.
The junior pair of Lindsay Cooper and Jessica Palfrey will provide depth upfront after combining for 10 goals last year. Cooper also chipped in with 10 groundballs and 30 draw controls.
Rounding out the offensive returners are midfielder Liz Edwards, and attackers Carlee Simon and Natalie Williford. Edwards led the way with seven points, while Simon was close behind with three goals and a pair of assists.
Defense
The Wildcat defense will look to a new leader after the graduation of two-time NLC Defender of the Year Graham, along with Stella Davis, Lauren Vanhusen and Taylor Ketcham.
The quartet all started at least 12 games last year, with Graham and Vanhusen starting 18 and 17, respectively. Those four also combined for 82 groundballs and 42 caused turnovers in 2010.
Looking to fill the void will be juniors McGuire and Abigail Doelger, and sophomores Logan and Becca Garman. McGuire was named to the All-NLC Second Team after recording 25 groundballs, 30 draw controls and forcing five turnovers in 15 games.
Doelger, an All-NLC Academic Team member, and junior defender Morgan Tarrant played in a combined 13 games, with Doelger hauling in 13 groundballs and forcing five turnovers.
Sophomores Garman and Logan spent the fall season filling the void of last year's seniors. They took the freshmen under their wing and led the defense to fall victories over defending NLC champions High Point and NLC contender Longwood.
The final layer of the defense is junior goaltender Jessica Melby. The junior had a nice season last year as a first-year
There are seven freshmen again this year. Talk about what they bring to the table and how you see them fitting into the rotation and contributing this season?
Coach Wayne: “All seven freshmen have an opportunity to end up in the starting lineup, which is rare to say at this level. Katy Boyle has been our only goalkeeper this fall and has done a great job earning the respect of our defensive unit. Mary Leonard, Catherine Schmidt and Emily Rademacher are fast, deceptive and hardworking midfielders who are eager to learn and do whatever it takes to be successful. Sarah Duncan and Diane Girling are solid defenders who played almost every minute in all of our fall tournaments. They are learning to use their voices a lot more thanks to our sophomore defensive leaders Paige and Becca. Emily Cooke has the best stick on the team and is impossible to defend since she is constantly moving to get open. I'm excited to see each one step up at any given moment.”
The Schedule
Davidson opens the season on the road, Feb. 18, at American. The two teams have squared off 11 times, including the last five years straight.
The 'Cats then return home for their home opener on Feb. 25 against Navy. It will be the start of a six-game homestand where they will also host UC Davis, Vermont, St. Francis (Pa.), Siena and Lafayette. In all, the 'Cats have an 11-game home slate this year.
The Wildcats first conference game will be Mar. 24 at home vs. Presbyterian. For the second straight year Davidson will have home-field advantage in the NLC Tournament, which occurs from May 4-6.
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