Feb. 10, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The 2009 Penn State women's lacrosse team will see it first action of the season on Sun., Feb. 15 when the Nittany Lions host No. 16 Cornell in 1 p.m. scrimmage at Holuba Hall.
Head coach Suzanne Isidor returns a squad comprised of 23 letterwinners and six starters that will be captained by a trio of seniors in Kerry Shea (Baltimore, Md.), Laura Lincicome (Berwyn, Pa.), and Megan McGuire (Eldersburg, Md.). Add to the core group of veterans, a highly touted recruiting class and the Penn State women's lacrosse program is primed for a return to glory.
"I think all of our returning players learned a tremendous amount from last year," said Isidor, who is entering her ninth season at the helm of the Penn State program. "We were certainly disappointed in how the 2008 season turned out. However, our upperclassmen are ready to lead the 2009 team in a different direction. The players came in with an excitement. The leadership so far this year has proven to be very good and we are looking to carry that into the season."
The Penn State attack boasts a collection of capable scorers, meaning goals will likely come from a variety of sources in 2009. Returning starters Marisa Lozano (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Erica Mihm (Annapolis, Md.), and Jen Steadman (Sykesville, Md.) will headline the offense. Preseason All-ALC selections Kerry Shea and Theresa Bucci
Junior midfielder Theresa Bucci was named to the All-ALC preseason team |
(Hudson, Ohio), who combined for 40 goals a year ago, along with junior Maria Valderas (Catonsville, Md.) will anchor the Penn State midfield. Providing leadership to a young defensive unit will be junior Margo Josephs (Reisterstown, Md.), who finished the 2008 season ranked third in the ALC in caused turnovers, and sophomore Maggie Dunbar (Cockeysville, Md.). In goal, junior Stephanie Ellis (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) returns as the team's most experienced keeper, but freshman Dana Cahill (Towson, Md.), a highly prized recruit, could challenge for playing time.
Cornell enters the 2009 campaign ranked No. 16 in the IWLCA preseason poll despite losing six starters, including a pair of All-Americans and the school's all-time leading scorer. The Big Red is coming off a season in which it finished 10-6 and second in the highly competitive Ivy League and just missed a bid to the NCAA postseason. Back to lead Cornell is senior midfielder Tissy O'Connor, the team's top returner in ground balls (23), draw controls (25) and caused turnovers (12), sophomore Libby Johnson (20 goals, 11 assists), the Big Red's top returning scoring threat from the attack position, defensive stalwarts Deidre Lafferty and Kelly Hansen, and Kristen Reese, an emerging talent at goalkeeper.
The Nittany Lions own a 6-1-0 record in their all-time series with Cornell. In 2008, Penn State tied the Big Red in a preseason scrimmage, 12-12, however, the border rivals have met just once in the regular season in the last 32 years.
Penn State opens regular season play next weekend when it hosts in-state foe Lafayette in a 7 p.m. game on Wed., Feb. 18. The location of the non-conference contest is yet to be determined but will either be indoors at Holuba Hall or outside at Bigler Field. The Nittany Lions have not faced the Leopards since 2001, a 13-5 victory.