SELINSGROVE, PA – After missing the Middle Atlantic Conference playoffs by one game in 2006, the Susquehanna University women's lacrosse team is intent on turning its final season in the Middle Atlantic Conference into a winning season.

First-year head coach Brenda Brewer will rely on a veteran roster that features 14 returning players, but no seniors, and seven starters back from last year's team that finished 6-9 overall and in seventh place in the MAC with a 5-5 league record.

Offensively, junior midfielder Rachel Devilbiss (Taneytown, MD/Francis Scott Key) was a first-team All-MAC selection after finishing with team highs of 36 goals and 38 points last season, while junior midfielder Heather Linton (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) added 28 goals and 32 points.

Junior attack Erin McGarrigle (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) finished with 25 goals and 31 points last year, while junior Courtney Thibeault (Brielle, NJ/Manasquan) added eight goals, 34 ground balls and 22 caused turnovers.

Additional depth on the attack will be provided by juniors Mary Minuni (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown), Megan Midura (Penfield, NY/Penfield) and Dana Mulvihill (Madison, NJ/Morristown-Beard School).

Sophomore midfielder Meghan Cadigan (Mountain Lakes, NJ/Mountain Lakes) came off the bench in all 15 games last season and finished with five goals and five assists for 10 points, while freshmen Janita Wills (Chambersburg, PA/Perkiomen School) and Amy Brigham (Scarborough, ME/Scarborough) will also see action for the Crusaders.

The Crusader defense is anchored by sophomore Katelyn Deese (Malvern, PA/Great Valley), who was named first-team All-MAC after scoring nine goals and leading the Crusaders in draw controls (41), ground balls (46) and caused turnovers (31) as a freshman.

Junior Christine Ottley (West Chester, PA/Unionville) also had a strong season defensively with 33 ground balls, 18 draw controls and 17 caused turnovers while junior Liz DiPaola (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) started 14 games and finished with 21 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers.

Sophomores Jessica Wilson (Harleysville, PA/Souderton) and Cindy Wilson (West Chester, PA/Henderson) will also be contributors on defense after seeing limited action last year. Jessica Wilson recorded 13 ground balls in 13 games while Cindy Wilson added 10 ground balls and four caused turnovers in eight games.

In goal, junior Jess Weiss (Huntingdon Valley, PA/William Tennent) made four starts and finished with a 2-4 record with a 9.17 goals against average in 301 minutes of action, with freshman Kirstyn Mahoney (Riegelsville, PA/Brewster, NY) expected to battle for playing time as well.