Women's Lacrosse set to begin play this weekend at Bard
North Adams, MA- The MCLA Women's Lacrosse program is eager to enter their third season as a varsity program. The Trailblazers will open play this Saturday when they travel to Bard College in the season opener.
Last year, the Trailblazers struggled to a 3-11 campaign, but optimism reigns supreme as MCLA returns three of their top four scorers from a year ago. The Trailblazers were selected to finish eighth in the MASCAC preseason poll released last week.
Head Coach Maria Bartini also enters her third season at the helm of the Lacrosse program. Bartini expects her club to be more balanced than in recent years and she has been excited with the progress to date with practice. The Trailblazers have had the advantage of using Shewcraft Field for practice over the last week with the warm winter in the Berkshires, something that the program has not been able to do in the past.
Coach Bartini should see quality production from senior Natalie Caney as she was a second team All MASCAC performer a year ago. Caney scored a team best 33 goals and added 10 assists for 43 points to lead the attack. Her ability to score will make her a threat in any contest she plays. Joining Caney on the attack is junior Mackenzie Cutler. She added 26 goals and 7 assists last season, good enough for second on the team in scoring. The duo will be the focal point of the MCLA attack in 2017.
Senior Rachel Green should control the midfield as she tallied 13 goals and 6 assists last season. Green has been with the program since its inception and will be counted on as a team leader. Another junior, Courtney Gabrus scored 7 goals last season and can also impact play on the attack.
Other Trailblazers that should feature in the attack are newcomers Aleah Sangiovanni, Kim Granito, Alexa Fuerst, Lauren Sharer, and Beatrice Lechler.
The Trailblazer defense will undergo some changes due to graduation, however Coach Bartini has stressed balance in 2017. Senior Svetlana Morrell and Andrea Villars are the only returning defenders from a year ago, however MCLA should have some newcomers ready to step forward. Samantha Schwantner, Chanielle Enomoto, Emma Linskey, and Brianna Morris should all compete for time in 2017.
In goal, the Trailblazers have a pair of keepers in Zoe Elwell and newcomer Julia Coughlin. Elwell started 12 games between the pipes last season for MCLA and earned the team's three victories. Coughlin is a first year keeper who should provide some competition for Coach Bartini.
The Trailblazers schedule isn't balanced in 2017 with just 5 home matches on the docket. MCLA opens at Bard on Saturday before the home opener on March 10th against Mount Saint Vincent. The Trailblazers will have three non league games after that before beginning MASCAC play at Bridgewater State on April 1st.
The Trailblazers will then welcome MASCAC foes Fitchburg State, Worcester State, and Mass. Maritime to Shewcraft Field during April with road tilts at Salem State, Westfield State, and the season finale at Framingham State.
For a full schedule in 2017, please click HERE
For the 2017 roster, please click HERE