NEWBURGH, N.Y. – The Mount Saint Mary College women's lacrosse team looks to continue its success in 2015 after an impressive 2014 season under head coach
Julia Steese. In Steese's second year in charge, the team finished with its second consecutive winning record at 8-7, including a 5-2 record in Skyline Conference play, which stands as the best in program history. Many players who played a huge role in the team's success last year will be returning this year, including three Knights named to the 2014 Skyline Women's Lacrosse All-Conference team.
"Last year was the second year we had a great record, which creates a good building block for this year," said Steese. "We have a lot of returning players, and a few new ones, which will help propel us forward for this season."
The Knights' leading returner from a year ago is sophomore attacker
Katie Gattoni (Old Tappan, N.J.), who tallied 51 points with 44 goals and seven assists in her rookie season. This was good enough for fourth on the all-time single-season scoring list for the program. Her efforts earned her a spot on the All-Conference First Team.
Two key players from last year's squad, senior midfielder
Nicole Scicutella (Massapequa, N.Y.), and junior defender
Claire Duffy (Monroe, N.Y.), will be looking to improve on strong 2014 seasons. Scicutella played a big role as scorer and distributor, racking up 16 goals and 13 assists for 29 points on the year. Duffy was a crucial factor on both ends in 2014, grabbing 37 ground balls, and adding 13 goals and four assists. Their impressive seasons earned them First-Team All-Conference honors. Coach Steese believes that these two will be a pivotal part of the team's success in 2015.
Duffy was also named a team captain this year, along with sophomore defender
Amanda Clemens (Baldwin, N.Y.). Duffy said she would like to use this role on the team to lead the defense. Clemens appeared in all 15 games as a freshman, scoring nine goals and causing 11 turnovers.
Sophomore midfielder
Kayla Goman (Greenwich, N.Y.) is a returner who Coach Steese expects to take a big step and lead the team this upcoming season using her speed and aggression. Junior attacker
Jen Gries (Hicksville, N.Y.) will be looking to build on a 15-goal 2014 season.
Also returning for the front line are junior
Shannon McGuinness (Oceanside, N.Y.) and sophomore
Fae Kuhnen (Bayside, N.Y) These two combined for five goals and 44 ground balls last season, and will be looking to chip in offensively in 2015. Sophomore defender
Courtney Blanton (Huntington, N.Y.) is set to improve on her 2014 season, where she made 13 appearances, causing five turnovers and recording nine ground balls.
This year's women's lacrosse team will be adding depth to the squad with nine new players, including seven freshmen along with two additional newcomers.
Freshmen
Morgan Cordes (Sound Beach, N.Y.),
Christina Ryan (Franklin Square, N.Y.) and
Jennifer Bones (Camden, Del.), are expected to make an immediate impact. Steese said Cordes will step in on defense, Ryan will play a big role on draws in the midfield, and Bones will bring height to the Knights' attacking line.
Freshmen
Carly Lennon (Bellmore, N.Y.) and
Emily Carboine (Hauppauge, N.Y) will battle for the starting goalkeeping position that is up for grabs this season.
Junior transfer
Shannon Root (Wildwood, Mo.), freshman
Meagan Hayde (Lagrangeville, N.Y.), and freshman
Kyla Nichols (Bristol, Conn.) will be playing multiple positions for the Knights, looking to run the midfield as well as the attack. Root is set to make a positive impact after transferring from Franciscan University, where she played two years of varsity lacrosse, and recorded 11 points in the 2014 season on six goals and five assists. Hayde and Nichols will see time on the attack for the Knights, and get to work on their midfield game as well. Joining the Knight attack, junior newcomer
Annie Frank (Walden, N.Y.) will be looking to earn minutes on the field.
Clemens believes that the newcomers will make this season a special one.
"We're one big family", said Clemens. "We have a lot of fresh new faces with great ideas and enthusiasm for the team."
After two consecutive successful seasons, Coach Steese wants to see her team build upon its previous success and reach a new level this year.
"We would like to ultimately make it to the championship this year", said Steese. "Also, to close the gap between the non-conference teams we play. We have a tougher schedule this year, but I think we have enough talent to be able to do it."
The Knights open their season on Saturday, Feb. 28, against Ramapo College at 12 p.m. at Kaplan Field.
Follow the Knights on Twitter at
@MSMCKnights and the women's lacrosse team at
@MSMC_WLax
