Riverdale, N.Y. – The College of Mount Saint Vincent Women's Lacrosse team will open the 2014 season on Monday evening when it travels to Hoboken, N.J. to take on Stevens. Opening Draw with the Ducks is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Mount Saint Vincent will be under the direction of first year head coach
Jill Hutchinson in 2014. The Dolphins and Ducks will get together for the seventh time all-time, with Stevens winning each of the previous six meetings, including a 20-3 win in 2013.
Offensively, Mount Saint Vincent returns five of its top six scorers from the 2013 team that produced 158 goals and 203 points. Junior
Kelly Fraser (Staten Island, N.Y.) is the team's top returning scorer after she produced 32 points on 27 goals and five assists a season ago.
Senior
Samantha Ramsden (Warren, R.I.) closed out her junior season in 2013 with 24 points after scoring 21 times and helping on three other goals. She tied for the team lead in groundballs with 56, led the Dolphins in caused turnovers with 34 and won 39 draw controls, which was good for second on the squad in 2013. Classmate
Laura Carr (Franklin Square, N.Y.) matched Ramsden's 56 groundballs last season and added 25 points on 17 goals and eight helpers.
Sophomore
Katie Coyle (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) posted 15 goals and 19 points in her freshman season in 2013 and junior
Melina Mezzanotte (Shirley, N.Y.) contributed 12 goals, 16 points and 17 groundballs as a sophomore.
The defense will be anchored by three-time Second Team All-Skyline Conference selection
Colleen Walsh (Manchester, Vt.). As a junior in 2013, Walsh registered six goals and 10 points, picked up 44 groundballs and was second on the team with 24 caused turnovers.
In goal, Mount Saint Vincent welcomes back junior
Kacie McCormack (Mahopac, N.Y.) who appeared in all 16 games last season and made 13 starts. She played 948:18 between the pipes as a sophomore and made 134 saves for the Dolphins.
On the offensive side, Mount Saint Vincent will welcome back
Catherine Maas (West Hartford, Conn.) and
Gabriella Astorino (Warwick, N.Y.). The defensive returnees include
Sophia Cunningham (Flushing, N.Y.),
Erin Maloney (Staten Island, N.Y.),
Kaitlyn Gaynor (Island Park, N.Y.) and Shannon Rielly (New City, N.Y.).
Hutchinson will also rely on production from a talented group of newcomers. The defense will look to
Rachel Steimel (Shoreham, N.Y.),
Claudia Munoz (Queens, N.Y.),
Kristen Jenkins (Bronx, N.Y.) and freshman goalie
Danielle O'Leary (Carmel, N.Y.).
On offense the group of
Brittany DeGennaro (Manorville, N.Y.),
Taylor Norman (Long Branch, N.J.),
Shannon Steimel (Shoreham, N.Y.),
Ardiana Mehmetaj (North Salem, N.Y.) and
Jessica McAllister (Floral Park, N.Y.) will look to make an immediate impact in 2014.
Following the season opener at Stevens, Mount Saint Vincent will play its next five games at home. The first game of the home stand is March 1 when they Dolphins host Scranton. Opening Draw is set for 6:00 p.m. at Maritime.
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