WILLIAMSTOWN, MA — For Chris Mason's 25th season as head women's lacrosse coach at Williams, she will have the reigning conference player of the year and a solid core of returning upperclassmen — not to mention the 2010 NESCAC Rookie of the Year — as the foundation of a team which last season won the NESCAC championship.
But the veteran coach knows that doesn't mean a repeat is automatic.
"We graduated seven senior starters from last season," Mason said, "so we have a lot of work to do. But there are people here who have been on the team and on the field who are ready to step up. We do have a very solid core of upperclassmen returning who we will rely on."
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| Anne Marie Burke '11 |
That group includes senior captains Julia Schreiber and Anne Marie Burke. Schreiber was chosen as the NESCAC Player of the Year in 2010 after playing all but 28 minutes in goal for the Ephs and coupling a 8.56 goals against average with a .529 save percentage. She finished the season with 180 saves.
"Julia is one of the best goalkeepers in Div III, not just the NESCAC," Mason said.
Burke will man the midfield and be relied on to do so both offensively and defensively. Last season she notched six goals and seven assists in the Ephs' 19 games.
"They are both outstanding players and very good leaders," Mason said.
Mason also had a very talented group of juniors that include Meera Sivalingam and Kaitlin Ellis in
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| Margie Fulton ' |
the midfield, Margie Fulton and Taylor Fleishhacker on attack and Tyler Chapman in the defensive back.
In addition, sophomores Sam Weinstein and Nicolle Perry, both midfielder/attack types, are back for their second season. In Weinstein (team-leading 49 goals, 51 points), Ellis (16 goals, 33 assists), Fulton (31 goals, 10 assists) and Sivalingam (17 goals, 15 assists), Mason has four of her top five scorers back in the fold.
"We do have some great experience back in the midfield and attack," Mason said. "I think we have some good depth in the midfield and great speed there. The question will be, do we have a midfield rotation, or do we take some people out and get some of that speed on attack and on defense."
Mason also expects sophomores Emily Whicker (midfield) and Grace Horwitz (defense) to step in and provide depth. Sophomores Katie Pettengill, Elizabeth Ryan and Alex Sera will be in similar roles.
The first-year class consists of Grace Wilson, Steph Gallo, Becca McGovern, Emily Jablonski, Emily Pavlini, Lacey Hankin, Maggie MacCallum, Courtney McLaughlin and Ali Piltch, who will back up Schreiber in goal for the Ephs.
"We'll be looking for our other sophomores and freshmen to set themselves apart in the preseason," Mason said. "I think we have some freshmen who will see a lot of time on the field, we just have to figure out who that will be."
Mason believes the NESCAC is one of the best conferences in the country and has only gotten stronger heading into the 2011 season.
"I think we're a good team, but I think everyone else in the NESCAC is too," she said. "Time will tell how good we can be."
Williams opens is season Saturday with a home contest against conference rival Colby at 12 p.m.
