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BAY CITY, Mich. — The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) lacrosse coaches selected Grand Valley State University to win the league title in the 2013 GLIAC Lacrosse Preseason Poll. This will be the first season that lacrosse will be played in the GLIAC.
The league’s head coaches participated in the balloting, but were not allowed to vote for their team.
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2013 GLIAC Lacrosse |
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Place |
School (1st votes) |
Points |
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1. |
Grand Valley State (7) |
56 |
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2. |
Lake Erie (3) |
51 |
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Notre Dame |
51 |
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4. |
Tiffin |
43 |
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5. |
Findlay |
40 |
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6. |
Wheeling Jesuit |
33 |
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7. |
Urbana |
24 |
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8. |
Alderson-Broaddus |
13 |
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Walsh |
13 |
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GVSU finished on top of the 2013 GLIAC Preseason poll after with 56 points and six first place-votes. Lake Erie College and Notre Dame College tied for second in the preseason poll with 51 points, while Notre Dame grabbed the last three first-place votes. Tiffin University collected 43 points just edging out The University Findlayfor fourth place. Findlay would finish in fifth with 40 points.
Wheeling Jesuit University tallied 33 points to finish sixth followed by Urbana University with 24 points to finish in seventh. Alderson-Broaddus College and Walsh University both collected 13 points to tie for eighth place in the preseason poll.
The 2013 GLIAC women’s lacrosse schedule will feature a single round-robin format with each of the nine teams playing eight conference games beginning on April 3. The inaugural GLIAC women’s lacrosse tournament will include the top six teams in the final regular season standings with the top two teams receiving byes into the semifinals. GLIAC Tournament quarterfinal matches will be played at the sites of the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds on Tuesday, April 30. The Tournament semifinals and final will be held at the site of the No. 1 seed on Friday, May 3 and Sunday, May 5.
For more information about GLIAC lacrosse please visit the GLIAC lacrosse web page at: www.gliac.org.page at: www.gliac.org.
-- The following are previews of all 9 GLIAC Lacrosse teams for the 2013 season --
Grand Valley State Lakers
Head Coach: Alicia Groveston
2nd Season
2013 Preseason Pick: 1st
2012 Record: (10-7, N/A GLIAC)
OVERVIEW: Entering its second year of
competition, the Grand Valley State women’s lacrosse team
returns 15 members of its inaugural squad and welcomes nine
newcomers to the team. In the Lakers’ home opener, the
team opened their brand new complex in style welcoming an NCAA
Division II-record 1,812 fans to the Laker Lacrosse Complex.
OFFENSE: Grand Valley State has 89 percent of
its scoring returning led by sophomores Victoria Devine, Rachel
Leibovitz and Jordan Luberto. Devine had 37 goals last season
in addition to six assists for 43 points to pace the Lakers.
Leibovitz scored a team-high 38 goals and three assists to sit in
second in points, while Luberto had 26 goals and 12 assists for 38
points. Luberto also had a team-high 57 draw controls while
going 10-of-16 on free-position shots.
DEFENSE: On defense, starters Alyssa Neumen and
Ashley Stoltenberg will be looked to control the back line. Neumen
had 12 caused turnovers and 26 ground balls in the backfield while
also scoring one goal and tallying an assist. Stoltenberg
picked up 25 ground balls and had six caused turnovers. GVSU
will welcome back Brianna Shefferly who missed 2012 with an injury
and sophomore Kelsei Streeter will compete for both time in the
midfield and defense. Freshmen Farren Billand, Stephanie Howell,
Samm Martin and Caitlin Wojichowski will also lend some help to the
back line.
GOALIES: Sophomore Audrey Kobe returns to
protect the net and will look to newcomer, junior Lindsay McCarty,
to help as well. McCarty joined the Lakers after two years on
the GVSU basketball team. Kobe had a 13.03 goals-against
average last season, starting all 17 contests in the net. The
keeper made 134 saves in her first season and played more than 930
minutes. Kobe limited four opponents to less than 10 goals last
season.
COACHES: Led by second-year head coach Alicia
Groveston, GVSU finished 10-7 in 2012, earning the program’s
first-ever victory on the road at Converse.
Lake Erie Storm
Head Coach: Jillian Howley
2nd Season
2013 Preseason Pick: 2nd
2012 Record: (7-10, N/A GLIAC)
OVERVIEW: The Lake Erie College women’s
lacrosse team looks to take the Great Lakes Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference by storm in the league’s inaugural season
after playing the previous three season in the Eastern Coast
Conference (ECC). The Storm (7-10, 1-7 ECC) return 13 letterwinners
from their 2012 campaign while losing only three players.
OFFENSE: The Storm return two players with over
50 points in 2012 in senior attacks Julia Kudla (Harleysville,
Pa./Souderton) and junior Ashriel West (Jamesville, N.Y./Jamesville
Dewitt). Kudla had team-highs in points (71), goals (42) and
assists (29) in 2012. West was third on the team with 52 points on
38 goals and 14 assists. Lake Erie will be looking to fill the void
at attack left by Annie Mendoza who scored 53 points on 38 goals
last season. Senior midfielder Meredith Howe (Fayetteville,
N.Y./Jamesville Dewitt) also returns after a prolific 2012 season
where she scored 42 points on 38 goals while tallying 41 draw
controls. Senior Brittany Rabuano (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn) and
sophomore Hana Abu-Kwiek (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) will
join Howe in midfield. The duo combined for 52 groundballs last
season.
DEFENSE: Lake Erie returns five players on the
defensive side of the ball including three full-time starters.
Junior Michaela Schock (Dover, Del./Caesar Rodney) provides an
offensive threat from the defensive side, scoring 10 goals in 2012
and collecting 19 groundballs. Classmate Alex Freeman (Syracuse,
N.Y./Jamesville Dewitt) made 15 starts on defense, collecting 20
groundballs. Sophomore Samantha Gryba (Okotos, Alberta/National
Sport Academy) started in all 17 games as a freshman. Freshman
Skylar Hunter (Erie, Pa./McDowell) and senior newcomer Morgan
Williams (East Rochester, Ohio/United) look to compete for playing
time on defense.
GOALIES:Junior Emily Rock (Hamilton,
Ohio/Lakota Lake) returns to the net for the Storm after making 16
starts in 2012, winning six games and making 128 saves. Junior
Ashlee Heckard (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) appeared in three games
last season, making 13 saves. Freshman Katie Holden (Whitby,
Ontario/Anderson C.V.I.) adds to depth to the position.
COACHES: Jillian Howley returns for her second
year with the Storm. Howley. She will again be joined by
second-year graduate assistant Lauren Martin, who graduated from
Lees-McRae College in 2011.
Notre Dame Falcons
Head Coach: Torry McGowan
5th Season
2013 Preseason Pick: 3rd
2012 Record: (6-10, N/A GLIAC)
OVERVIEW: Notre Dame is coming off a 6-10
record in 2012. The 2012 team was comprised of a great deal of
youth, with no seniors dotting a 21-player roster. NDC’s
program was launched in 2005 and has played as an independent in
each season; 2013 will mark the Falcons’ first as a member of
a conference.
OFFENSE: The Falcons averaged 13.6 goals per
contest in 2012. The top five scorers on that 2012 squad all return
this season, with junior midfielder Kristen Hull (50 goals, 19
assists) being the key returnee. A pair of junior attackers who
piled up 30-plus goals -- Madalyn Dewling (39 goals) and Kelly
Matthewman (32) will also return in 2013. Brooke Czarnecki and
Katherine Doraty are two freshmen who figure to get playing time up
front. Notre Dame committed 16.9 turnovers per game a year ago, and
Head Coach Torrey McGowan has indicated that not losing possessions
as frequently is a factor he considers as key to the development of
the offense in 2013.
DEFENSE: Most of the defensive corps from a
year ago return this spring, with junior Demi Bennett and senior
Elyse Houck expected to lead the backfield. Notre Dame yielded 13.9
goals per game in 2013, but the Falcons’ first half (14.9
goals allowed per game) gave way to better results in the second
(13.2). NDC gave up 17-plus goals in five of their first seven
games. Newcomers Hayley Ericson and Christina Haston — both
freshmen — will be looked to for depth in this group.
GOALIES: Junior Kelsey Harvey and senior Amanda
Matusik return as Notre Dame’s most experienced keepers.
Freshman Lauren Ragsdale and sophomore Jessica Vuozzo are expected
to be part of a four-player competition for minutes. Harvey (562
minutes), Matusik (275) and Vuozzo combined to post a .308 save
percentage in 2012.
COACHING: Torrey McGowan returns for his fifth season at the helm of Falcon Women’s Lacrosse. He owns an all-time record of 24-33 (.421).
Tiffin Dragons
Head Coach: Erica Brown
1st Season
2013 Preseason Pick: 4th
2013 Record: (3-14, N/A GLIAC)
OVERVIEW: Tiffin University’s
women’s lacrosse team looks for major improvement over last
year’s 3-14 record. With women’s lacrosse now a GLIAC
sponsored sport, the Lady Dragons have even more motivation to move
forward and take the program to the next level. Leading the way
will be 8 returning letterwinners including 6 returning
starters.
OFFENSE: Offensively TU will be led by two-time
NCAA Division II scoring leader Alexandria Quast at forward. Quast
registered 82 goals last year to once again lead the country in
goals per game, adding 22 assists for 104 total points along with
71 ground balls, 65 draw controls, and 17 caused turnovers. Alexis
MacMillan also returns and brings back 29 goals and 25 assists.
They will be joined by talented newcomers Emily Roussel and Katelyn
Hill on the attack.
DEFENSE: Defensively Kalie Weinheimer returns and adds a strong two-way component to the TU defense. She tallied 17 goals while also causing 11 turnnovers on defense. Two more talented freshmen - Megan Belch and Molly Kruse - figure to have a big impact on the team defense.
GOALIES: In goal, Jessica Bombard returns after a strong freshman season in which she tallied 237 saves and had a 15.44 GAA. Bombard also figures prominently in keeping the defense organized.
COACHES: Erica Brown enters her first year coaching the Dragons.
Findlay Oilers
Head Coach: Julie Duffy
3rd Season
2013 Preseason Pick: 5th
2012 Record: (N/A, N/A GLIAC)
OVERVIEW: The Oilers will be entering their first year as a program this season under the guidance of Julie Duffy.
OFFENSE: The Oilers offense will be led by a trio of freshmen in Olivia Porcaro, Mackenzie Barnwell and Jessie Rice. Freshmen Sarah Lankton, Taylor Trice and Victoria Predmore will also have a chance to make an impact around the goal as they will serve as midfielders.
DEFENSE: Sophomore Jenah Eastep and freshmen Mac Harper and Lauren Illencik will lead the Oilers defense, which will also receive help from the three midfielders listed above.
GOALIES: The Oilers have only one goalkeeper on their roster in freshman Kayla Jones, who will be consistent in the cage this year.
COACHES: Julie Duffy came to the Oilers from Ohio Wesleyan, where she racked up 21-25 record in three years.
Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals
Head Coach: Tim Florence
2nd Season
2013 Preseason Pick: 6th
2012 Record: (2-10, N/A GLIAC)
OVERVIEW: The Wheeling Jesuit women’s lacrosse team will enter its second season in program’s history under the guidance of Tim Florence.
OFFENSE: In 2013, the Cardinals return their two leading scorers in Sara Fitzsimon and Stephanie Katona. Last season, Fitzsimon led the Cardinals’ offense with 21 points which included 19 goals and two assists and Katona followed with 18 points on 13 goals and five assists.
DEFENSE:The Cardinals will relay on Annie Campbell, Sara Trefnoff, Sara Buckley and Erin Underwood to lead defensive efforts.
GOALIES: Hanna Lazuka transitioned from the defensive unit to play between the pipes.
COACHES: Tim Florence will be leading the Cardinals through their second season in school history and first season as GLIAC members with the help of graduate assistant coach Megan Dent-Carman. The Cardinals finished their inaugural season 2-10 and look to improve in 2013.
Urbana Knights
Head Coach: Aimee LeClair
2nd Season
2013 Preaseason Pick: 7th
2012 Record: (2-13, N/A GLIAC)
OVERVIEW: Over the past three seasons, we have learned a lot from our opponents and have made adjustments to gain strides for our Conference play. We are looking forward to a redemption season against some old rivals.
OFFENSE: Majority of the newcomers will be working through the ranks on the attack side. Alanna Costigan and Tabitha Stein have made huge adjustments to their style of play in preseason against our older defensemen. Returners Nora Boerger and Hannah Walters will be returning to the midfield along with newcomer Chanelle Bondurant.
DEFENSE: Our knowledge, strength and experience stack the defense. All of the defenders are upperclassmen that have played together since the beginning. Heather Abdalla, Alyssa Ashcroft and Ashley Gerken will be a force with their height, strength, and speed. Their drive and intensity will be a challenge to overcome for young attack players.
GOALIES:Sophomore Emily Brumley and freshman Paige Waqa will be battling it out for the starting spot.
COACHES: Head Coach Aimee LeClair - 2nd year. Assistant Coach Willard Henderson – 1st year
Alderson-Broaddus Battlers
Head Coach: Tim Florence
1st Season
2013 Preseason Pick: 8th
2012 Record: (N/A, N/A GLIAC)
OVERVIEW: The Alderson-Broaddus women’s lacrosse season kicks off its inaugural campaign Feb. 23 against West Virginia Wesleyan, but are prepared for an exciting season featuring 10 home contests at the new Multi-Sport Performance Stadium. The roster features a talented mix of upper and underclassmen, including several familiar faces for Battler soccer fans.
OFFENSE: Senior Sarah Holmes (Baltimore, Md.) will play midfield and offense. Freshmen Ellen Wilkins (Brunswick, Ohio) and Brittany Wildish (Ontario, Canada) expect to see minutes this season with the team’s offensive unit. “Ellie will play offense for us and Brittany will do a lot of heavy lifting playing both offense and defense,” explained Hayes.
DEFENSE: Michelle Blauman (Strongsville, Ohio), Tia Kline (Hagerstown, Md.) and Tayler Garcia (Phoenix, Ariz.) will contribute on defense this season.
GOALIES: Senior Kate Laird (Morgantown, W. Va.) will protect the goal for the cardinals. Laird owns every significant record as an All-American goalkeeper for the Battler women’s soccer team. The women’s lacrosse coaching staff feels her transition to lacrosse will be a seamless one. “We are very excited to have an All-Region goalie coming in and helping us compete,” explained Hayes. “Her talent is there and her development in the preseason is obvious.”
COACHES: Tim Florence is entering his first year at the Cardinals head coach. He is joined by Megan Dent-Carman as his assistant coach.
Walsh Cavaliers
Christy Mitchell
1st Season
2013 Preseason Pick: 9th
2012 Record: (N/A, N/A GLIAC)
OVERVIEW: Under the guidance of first-year head
coach Christy Mitchell, Walsh prepares for its first season of
women’s lacrosse. The Cavs have a roster of 18 players, with
numerous players coming from outstanding Ohio programs. Coach
Mitchell looks to build her first team around a talented goalie, a
skilled offense and a fast defense. The more the Cavs are on the
field the quicker they will adapt to one another and the collegiate
game. Walsh opens the season on March 22 at Baldwin-Wallace College
and being GLIAC play on April 5, at home against Tiffin
University.
OFFENSE: The Cavs motion offense will be built
around attackers Mary Myers (Sr.), Holly Axline (So.), Emily Walker
(Fr.), Lauren Griswold (Jr.), Alicia Dovicsak (Sr.) and Ivy Meloy.
Myers and Meloy will handle the center draws.
DEFENSE: The Cavs plan to utilize their outstanding team speed on the defensive end. Abby Arrington (Fr.), Meloy, Myers, Kristina Belopotosky, Kelly Krempel and Tae Clark have been outstanding in the preseason.
GOALIES: Coach Mitchell will rely on Tia Tyler
in goal. Tyler played three years at St. Francis DeSales HS. She
will be one of the keys to the Cavs’ success.
COACHES: Christy Mitchell (1st year)