Women's Lacrosse Looks to Capture LEC Title

The Plymouth State Women's lacrosse team kicked off their season earlier this week as they played the University of New England on Tuesday (3/4). PSU is coming off of a 2013 campaign that featured a 12-3 record, including a perfect 6-0 record in Little East Conference (LEC) play. Unfortunately, they fell to Eastern Connecticut State University in the LEC semi-finals. While most teams would look at an overall record of 12-3 as a fantastic season, this team knows that they have more talent and ability to go further than just the conference semi-finals.

"I think it makes us work harder," said junior captain Amy MacDonald (Hull, MA) upon remembering what it felt like to lose to ECSU last season. "That feeling is always there. I always think about that game," said MacDonald.

The upperclassmen that are on this team, although there are only seven combined seniors and juniors, haven't been able to capture a post-season victory since they have arrived here at Plymouth. Last year's graduating class not only featured players that were highly skilled, but also molded the program into what it is today. "They taught us so much. I wouldn't be the same person I am today if it wasn't for those guys," said junior captain Molly Gleason (Haverhill, MA) about the players that graduated last year. One of the players that was on last year's team, Kristen Guest, has now become an assistant coach for the Lady Panthers, as she bring her knowledge of being on multiple all-region teams last season to help develop, and teach her former teammates.

Fast-forward to this season, and the outlook for PSU hasn't changed at all. A number of new first-year players have become a part of the program, as there are 14 new players in the green and white. With a number of new players that are on this team, the Lady Panthers will look to show that going 12-0 over the past two years in conference was no fluke. 

Attack:

Key Returners- Amy MacDonald, Shannon Connerty, 

Newcomers- Jordyn Godfrey, Kaitlyn Wilder

MacDonald and Connerty (Nashua, N.H.) combined for over 100 points last season, and look to have even bigger and better roles this season. For both players, they have put the Little East Conference on notice over the past two season as MacDonald was on the first-team all-LEC last season. Wilder (Framingham, MA), who was on the field hockey team in the fall, will have a big presence in front of the net, as she will look to be a big scorer on this year's team. Her ability to be able to go to goal is one that will have goalie worried for the duration of the season. "She really gets it. She knows where to be and what to do," MacDonald said about Wilder. For Godfrey (Glenville, N.Y.), she is a quick attacker that will be able to set up various players to put the ball into the back of the net for PSU. As the season progresses, watch for this unit to really start clicking and putting points on the board.

Midfield:

Key Returners- Molly Gleason, Rachel Fistori, Emily Tilton

Newcomers- Chandler Lemay, Caroline Vonachen

This is probably the most experienced group for this team, as Gleason and fellow junior captain Fistori (Medford, MA) bring a lot of leadership to the field. Tilton (Cranston, R.I.) will have a bigger overall effect on this year's team, as the sophomore had three points in the team's first game of the season against the University of New England. Lemay (Narragansett, R.I.) and Vonachen (Framingham, MA) are two first-year players that will play a crucial role on both sides of the ball. Lemay is one of, if not the, fastest player on the team, and has excellent game management abilities and skills.     

Defense/Goalies:

Key Returners- Lorin Field, Allison Gonyea, Casey Curran

Newcomers- Megan Lunetta, Maddie Driscoll

Lorin Field (Hollis, N.H.) is the two-time defender of the year within the LEC, and shows no signs of slowing down. In 2013, Field led the NATION in save percentage at 56.9 percent. Try to comprehend that; there are 257 Division III teams that have a women's lacrosse program, and Field had the highest save percentage. Not to be outdone, junior Casey Curran (Framingham, MA) is able to step into net at any time, and is a hell of a goalie in her own right. In front of the goalies features a young defense outside of the senior Gonyea (Auburn, N.H.). Between Gonyea, Lunetta (Plymouth, MA), and Driscoll (Derry, N.H.), there is a ton of potential to pick-up where last year's defense left off, and with having Guest back as a coach, there will be a number of things that PSU will be able to learn from her.

Overall Expectations for the Season:

"We really want it, and we are going all the way this year, no exceptions," Gleason said about this season. With how last season ended, there is a lot of motivation that Plymouth has this year to capture a post-season title. Head Coach Kristin Tracy has put together a team that not only has the ability to make this motivation turn into a reality but also has a very close-knit team. At the end of the season, as Fistori said, "it will all be worth it" in the end. The hard work that PSU has put in since the end of last season will pay off this season.