Lacrosse Opens 2020 Season on Saturday

Saturday, February 8

Philadelphia, PA

1:00pm

George Washington University

Temple University

2/6/2020 12:41:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Colonials to face Temple in inaugural game under head coach Jenny Ulehla

OPENING DRAW: The George Washington lacrosse team is set to open its 2020 season under the direction of first-year head coach Jenny Ulehla on Saturday when it heads to Philadelphia to face Temple at 1 p.m.

FULL FORCE: The Colonials will look to utilize their experience in 2020 as they return their full squad from last season. After having zero seniors on the team in 2019, GW will look to its eight seniors this season. Of those eight seniors, four have been key starters for GW since their first season suiting up in the Buff and Blue.

ON THE ATTACK: GW will look to the trio of Ioanna Mantzouratos, Morgan McDonnell and Kendall Lambert to lead the squad offensively in 2020. In the 14 games in which she saw action last season, Mantzouratos tallied 20 goals and 6 assists to total 26 points. The junior will get help from McDonnell, who put together a career year in 2019, doubling her goal total from the previous season with 19 goals and topping the team with her 17 assists. Lambert, who saw action in six games last season, tallied three goals and three assists. The Baldwin, Md., product is slated to have a breakout campaign in her second year in the Buff and Blue.

MORE IN THE MIDDLE: The GW midfield is set to be stacked in 2020, highlighted by captains Caroline Kiernan and Katie Quinn. A mainstay on GW's midfield since her first season, Quinn finished the 2019 season with a team-high 40 points and tied for first on the squad with 30 goals. The Villanova, Pa., native also picked up 21 ground balls and recorded 30 draw controls to rank second on the team.

Kiernan also put together a strong 2019 campaign, starting all 17 games and registering 43 draw controls to rank first on the team and tie for ninth in program history. Her 31 caused turnovers in 2019 also rank third on GW's single season records list. The Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., native will aim to add more offensive production this season after tallying six points (5g, 1a) last season.

DEPTH IN DEFENSE: The Colonials will rely heavily on a core of returners to anchor the team on the defensive end. Senior captain Posie Paoletta, a three-year starter, is back to lead the Colonials' defensive unit after amassing 19 caused turnovers and 27 ground balls last season. The 2019 team MVP has started 48 of her 51 games played throughout her career and ranks sixth in program history with her 59 caused turnovers.

Backing Paoletta will be fellow senior Caroline Esmond, who started all 17 contests in her junior campaign, picking up 34 ground balls, including a season-high seven in GW's 14-9 victory over Radford. Cassie Scandalios will also bring veteran experience to the back line after picking up a team-high 40 ground balls last season.

BETWEEN THE PIPES: GW will look to its pair of keepers to protect the cage in 2020. The duo of Alexa Solomon and Megan Patrick will see some internal competition as they aim to earn the starting spot between the pipes.