Newburgh, N.Y. - Under the direction of fourth year head coach Julia Steese, the Mount Saint Mary College Women's Lacrosse team will open the 2016 season on Wednesday evening with a non-conference game against visiting Cedar Crest. Opening Draw with the Falcons is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. with Live Stats available for those who cannot attend the game.

At A Glance: Mount Saint Mary is coming off a 2015 season that saw it post a 7-10 overall record and a 5-2 mark against Skyline Conference rivals. The Knights earned a berth in the Skyline Conference Championship for the third straight season after recording the second most league wins in program history.

The Knights return 11 of their top 12 scorers from a season ago, a group that totaled 182 of the team's 215 goals in 2015. Mount Saint Mary will also welcome a talented group of newcomers to the fold in 2016.

Attack: Steese and the Knights will look to a strong trio of returning players at attack to lead the Mount in 2016. The group of Katie Gattoni (Old Tappan, N.J.), Jen Gries (Hicksville, N.Y.) and Shannon McGuinness (Oceanside, N.Y.) accounted for 87 goals and 104 points in 2015.

Gattoni, a 2015 First Team All-Skyline Conference selection, posted team-highs in goals (68), free-position goals (14) and points (75) as a sophomore, while Gries totaled 14 points and McGuinness contributed 15 points.

The Knights will also look for production from returning players Fae Kuhnen (Bayside, N.Y.) who started all 17 games last season and registered nine goals, Christina Ryan (Franklin Square, N.Y.) who totaled 13 points in 2015 and Annie Frank (Walden, N.Y.) who appeared in 11 games and scooped three groundballs for the Knights.

A talented group of newcomers at attack includes: Julia Fitzpatrick (Shelton, Conn.), Catherine Ferris (Staten Island, N.Y.) and Samantha Mendez (Whitestone, N.Y.).

Steese: Gattoni has worked hard to perfect her deceptive shot and we are expecting her to be an impact player again this season. Jennifer Gries increased her speed and accuracy tremendously this season. She is going to help balance out our attack from the left side.

Midfield: At midfield, Mount Saint Mary returns four players, led by Kayla Goman (Greenwich, N.Y.) who finished off her sophomore campaign with 21 goals, 28 groundballs and 47 draw controls. Sophomore Jennifer Bones (Camden, Del.) returns after registering nine goals as a freshman and Kathleen McGinnis (Shelton, Conn.) returns as a senior after posting 17 goals, 26 points, 29 groundballs and 34 draw controls during the 2014 season. Kyla Nichols (Bristol, Conn.) is back in the midfield after appearing in 14 games in 2015 and picking up five groundballs.

Newcomers Maggie Pedersen (Glasco, N.Y.) and Makayla Caso (Highland, N.Y.) will also vie for time at midfield in 2016.

Steese: "We have a large group of versatile players this year who will see time in the midfield. Kayla Goman and Kathleen McGinnis have proven to be pillars in our transition with their speed and strength. Freshman Maggie Pedersen will add to that strength with endurance and a strong shot."

Defense: Mount Saint Mary returns the core of its defense in 2016, led by First Team All-Skyline Conference pick Claire Duffy (Monroe, N.Y.). Duffy paced the team in draw controls (88) and groundballs (69) as a junior while adding 29 caused turnovers, 34 goals, nine assists and 43 points.

Amanda Clemens (Baldwin, N.Y.) finished off the 2015 season with 28 groundballs, 20 caused turnovers and 21 draw controls while posting 11 points on the strength of nine goals. Shannon Root (Wildwood, Mo.) started 15 games as a junior and totaled 28 groundballs and 17 caused turnovers, while sophomore Morgan Cordes (Sound Beach, N.Y.) totaled 19 groundballs and eight caused turnovers in 17 starts as a freshman. The Mount also welcomes back junior Courtney Blanton (Huntington, N.Y.) who appeared in 17 games and scooped 31 groundballs and caused 15 turnovers in 2015.

Steese will add freshman Jamie Monachino (Staten Island, N.Y.) to the defensive group in 2016.

Steese: "Captains Claire Duffy and Amanda Clemens will anchor our defense and bring the discipline and intensity we need to be successful. Cordes and Root compliment their style of play with speed and field vision."

Goalie: Mount Saint Mary will start a freshman in goal in 2016, with newcomer Amanda Picillo (Valley Stream, N.Y.) poised to make her collegiate debut on Wednesday.

Steese: "Amanda Picillo has done an outstanding job adjusting to the speed of college lacrosse. She has come to read the game very well and has improved her movement in and out of the cage throughout this preseason."


Upcoming Schedule: The 2016 schedule, which Steese fells has increased in strength again, will continue at Kean on March 5, before the Mount returns home on March 9 for a matchup with local rival New Paltz.

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