Women's Lacrosse 2003 Outlook

2/10/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse

Feb. 10, 2003

Head Coach Jen Morris leads the 2003 Colonials into their second season of varsity competition, setting high goals and expectations for her young and hungry squad. The inaugural season, despite a disappointing final record, gave the Colonials the experience the team desperately needed. The team only lost two players to graduation and return 19 from the original squad, 15 of which have had experience in the starting line-up. With the addition of five talented freshmen, the squad adds a tremendous amount of talent and depth at key positions.

Senior captain Raffaella Ceriello returns to lead a defense that returns all the starters from the 2002 season. Ceriello started all but two games during the 2002 season and was second on the team in both ground balls and caused turnovers, despite missing time due to injury. As a second year captain, she posses tremendous leadership and will help anchor her team's defense for the 2003 season.

Erin Berry joins Ceriello on defense after leading the team in both ground balls and caused turnovers and starting all 16 games as a freshman. Nicole Cozzolino is a strong midfield defender who earned her way into the starting line-up after recovering from knee surgery during the 2002 season. In addition seniors, Andrea Ahn, Varina Lin, junior Rachel Abdulla, junior transfer Maria Druke and sophomore Karleen Krenicky are all expected to compete for time on defense, and give Morris excellent depth and options for the upcoming season.

Freshman Nicole Robbat, an All-League selection from Governor Dummer Academy, is expected to bring her size, speed, and aggressiveness to help round-out the defensive unit. Also looking to regain her starting role is sophomore Mary Monaghan who will return from an early season injury. Monaghan is expected to work herself quickly into the line-up and will add her aggressiveness and strong midfield transition game back to the already strong defense.

The midfield will be led by sophomores Jamie Lee and Meghan McDonough. Lee is second on the team in both total goals and total points. McDonough, voted MVP as a freshman by her teammates, led the team in assists and was third in both goals scored, total points, ground balls, and caused turnovers. The all-around balanced play of the two, who appeared in all 16 games as freshmen, will help the Colonials control the midfield and transition on attack. Both players will contribute on both offense and defense in the 2003 season.

Lee and McDonough are joined by fellow sophomore Jenny Heisler a high school All-American from Ohio who also appeared in all 16 games as a freshman. Heisler's speed and field sense make her a threat throughout the midfield. Sophomores Deena Vezo, Lia Harris, and Colleen Schmidt round-out the midfield. Vezo was a regular in the starting line-up from 2002 and is expected to continue her role as a transitioning defender. Harris' speed and ability make her a threat at either end of the field. Schmidt, an All-County selection from Wantagh, NY is expected to compete for time and add much-needed depth to the Colonials midfield.

The attack will be led by sophomore captain Heidi Mayer. Mayer led the Colonials in goals and total points in 2002 and started all 16 contests as a freshman. Mayer, a strong offensive player, is expected to continue where she left off and should be among the league-leaders this season. Sophomore Becca Valle will be a key on offense this season, and Morris expects her to assume a larger role this season. Valle appeared in all 16 contests as a freshman and started three. Her game experience has prepared her to be an offensive threat, which is exactly what this young attack needs.

Also returning on attack is junior Jacqueline Arfaa. Arfaa started 14 games last season as a sophomore transfer from UMBC. Her speed and aggressiveness make her a formidable threat on the offensive end. Freshman Lauren Bower a balanced scorer and All-State selection from Moorestown, NJ is expected to push for starting time on the attacking end and will be joined by fellow freshman Katie Kearns, an All-Leauge player from Cheltenham, PA and Meghan Baldwin MVP from Kinswood-Oxford High School, CT who will compete for time as well.

The 2003 edition of the Colonials is battle-tested and will make an impact on the Atlantic 10 Conference this season. With the experience gathered last season by the returnees and a talented freshman class, George Washington is ready to take the next step in the maturation process of a young program