For Women’s Lacrosse, 2012 Marks the Dawning of a New Era
The Elms College women's lacrosse team is set to begin a new era under first-year head coach Ruth Ness. The Blazers return nine players from last year's squad and welcome six newcomers to the team.
Elms takes the field this season led by its four seniors, Emily Walsh (Hadley, Mass.), Asiana Venne (Granby, Mass.), Rachel Schrutt (Chicopee, Mass.), and Emily McInerney (Glastonbury, Conn.).
In 2011, Walsh finished second on the team in goals scored with 22 and collected a team-best 58 groundballs in 15 games played. McInerney was stellar on defense with 20 groundball pickups, six caused turnovers and added an assist during the 2011 campaign.
Schrutt will see time in goal for the Blazers in her first season of lacrosse, while Venne will provide additional experience in the defensive third of the field.
Four juniors, four sophomores, and three freshmen round out the rest of the squad. Here is a look at how the rest of the roster breaks down by position:
Attack
Junior Kaitlyn Harrington (East Longmeadow, Mass.) will join Walsh as Elms' primary attackers this season. Harrington returns to the team after taking a season off in 2011. In 2010, she was third on the team in goals scored with 17, scooped 23 groundballs, earned 22 draw controls and forced four turnovers.
Freshmen Elisha Godbout (Southampton, Mass.) and Lauren Mazza (Feeding Hills, Mass.) will also see time in the offensive third of the field as they get set to start their collegiate careers.
Midfield
The Blazers' midfield is the squad's deepest unit as juniors Cathy Duquette (Naples, Maine) and Catherine Leonard (Chicopee, Mass.) will serve as the anchor for the group. Sophomores Gabrielle Calvanese (Agawam, Mass.) and Brianna Lyons (Canton, Mass.) also return to the field for their second campaign.
Duquette scored six goals in 2011, while Lyons led all first-year players with five scores and was second on the team with four assists last year.
Sophomore Kayla Narey (South Hadley, Mass.) will make her first appearance on the lacrosse field in 2012 and will join Walsh, Godbout and Mazza who will each see time in the midfield as well as on offense.
Defense
Directed by seniors McInerney and Venne, Elms' defensive corps features a pair of seniors a junior and two sophomores. Junior Marcia Norat (Brockton, Mass.) and sophomores Lyons and Kate Borisova (Chicopee, Mass.) round out a seasoned group of defenders that will look to keep opponents off balance throughout the season.
Goalkeeper
The Blazers will utilize two goalkeepers during the 2012 campaign, Schrutt – a senior making her debut between the pipes for Elms – and freshman Alysha Parsons (Newington, Conn.) – one of six multi-sport athletes for the Blazers.
Schedule
The 2012 season kicks off on Saturday, March 10 as Elms opens its slate with the first of seven home contests – a 2:00 p.m. tilt against Thomas College at Leary Field. The Blazers will host the Sage Colleges one week later on March 17 before beginning its New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance (NEWLA) schedule when it hosts Fitchburg State University on March 20 at 7:00 p.m.
Elms will play eight conference contests including matchups with first-year NEWLA members Massachusetts Maritime Academy (March 31) and Salem State University (April 3).
Six of the Blazers' first 10 games will be at Leary Field between March 10 and April 11 before the team gets set for a four-game road swing between April 14 and April 25.
Elms concludes its regular season at home against Bridgewater State University on April 28.
Wrap Up
For Elms lacrosse, the 2012 season marks the dawning of a new era. A new coach, a new philosophy, and a renewed commitment to building on a long-standing tradition of competitive play.
