1998 MAC Runner-Ups, Women’s Lax Won’t Surprise Anyone This Year
Return 13 Letterwinners, 11 Starters for 1999 Opener at Catholic Thu.
SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) — The Susquehanna University women’s lacrosse team enters the 1999 season in a position it has never had before — having high expectations.
Last year’s squad posted not only the first winning season in the program’s nine-year varsity history at 9-7, it also went 5-1and finished second in the Middle Atlantic Conference under rookie head coach Gina Lucido — making the debut MAC Championship Game in the process.
With 13 letterwinners and 11 starters back from that team, expectations are high that the Crusaders can not only contend for a return trip to the title game, but also be a more serious threat to five-time defending champion Drew. The Rangers earned their fifth-straight title last spring with an 18-1 home drubbing of the Crusaders.
Susquehanna will open the season next Thursday, March 18, with a 4 p.m. non-conference game at Catholic in Washington, D.C.
“I am looking forward to this year. We were good last year and we are looking to take it to the next level this season,” said Lucido, who has also added four talented freshmen to the roster. “This program is committed to excellence. We need to get better every year and we have the talent to do so.”
THE ATTACKERS
Senior co-captain Sandy Jenkin (Millersville, Md./Severna Park H.S.) has been an MAC All-Star in each of her first three seasons and just rejoined the team after being one of the tri-captains on the Crusader women’s basketball team, which made the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time since 1993.
Jenkin set school single-season scoring marks last season for goals (39) and scoring (50 points). She was eighth in the MAC in goals per game (2.44) and ninth in scoring (3.13). She also led the team in shots (83) and was third in ground balls (64). Along the way, she became the program’s first MAC Player of the Week, and had three five-goal games to equal the fourth-most in a game at Susquehanna, with four assists vs. FDU-Madison for the second-most. For her career, she has 72 goals, 14 assists and 86 points to rank third all-time in each (Records: 94 goals, Cheryl Irvine, 1993-96; 17 assists, Makowski, 1997-; 103 points, Irvine, 1993-96)
Jenkin will be joined on the offensive end by junior two-time first-team league All-Star Dana Makowski (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson H.S.). Already the school record holder in career assists (17), Makowski set a single-season school assist record with 16 in 1998. She was fifth in the MAC in assists per game last season (1.00), finishing second on the team in scoring after tying with Jenkin as a freshman. Makowski had 20 goals for 36 points last year. Her 38 goals and 55 points rank her fourth in both categories all-time.
Senior Thora Westock (West Paterson, N.J./Montclair Kimberly Academy) is also a returning starter up front who finished third on the team in scoring a year ago with 20 goals and five assists for 25 points (1.67 ppg). Westock tore her anterior crutiate ligament in the MAC Championship Game last season, but appears to be fully rehabbed from that injury.
Freshman Krista O’Brien (Sykesville, Md./Liberty H.S.) is also expected to start for the team at one of the homes. The Crusader coaches are excited about her offensive potential.
Also look for freshman Karen Snyder (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster H.S.) to see time offensively, while fellow frosh Katie Sonnefeld (Monkton, Md./Hereford H.S.) will get on the field either up front or in the midfield. Sonnefeld saw qualify varsity time on the women’s soccer team last fall.
THE MIDFIELD
The Crusader transition game will be in the hands of returning MAC First Team All-Star and sophomore Erin Powell (Claymont, Del./Ursuline Academy) and junior Janelle Reed (Shamokin/Line Mountain H.S.), who was a second-team All-Star last season.
Powell scored 24 points (1.60 ppg) last season on 21 goals and three assists, also picking up 56 ground balls.
In just her second season of playing the sport, Reed was second on the team last year in ground balls with 65. She also scored 10 goals and had three assists for 13 points (0.87 ppg).
Sophomore Julie Fischer (North Wales/North Penn H.S.) also will bolster the midfield after starting 10 games a year ago and leading the team in ground balls with 76. She also had five goals and five assists for 10 points (0.77 ppg).
Senior Sally Brady (New Berlin/Mifflinburg H.S.) is also a three-year letterwinner who is back along the midfield. Like Reed, Brady just began playing the sport when she got to Susquehanna. She had 62 ground balls last season while scoring six goals and adding an assist for seven points (0.47 ppg).
In addition to Sonnefeld, expect freshman Liz Cipoletti (Fort Salonga, N.Y./Northport H.S.) to also see time in the midfield.
THE DEFENSE
Defensively, the team will be led by the senior duo of co-captain Brandy Crum (Harrisburg/Central Dauphin H.S.) and Christine Hughes (Sewell, N.J./Clearview Regional H.S.). Each of them started all 16 games last season and according to Lucido, “provide great leadership.”
An all-region field hockey midfielder, Crum had 63 ground balls and a team high nine interceptions last season while scoring four goals and adding two assists for six points (0.38 ppg).
Hughes had 40 goals while helping to anchor a defense which posted a 9.35 team goals-against average last season.
Junior Kirsten Dohner (Annville/Annville-Cleona H.S.) also played in all but one game on defense and started 14 last season.
Like the people in front of her, senior Jen Swope (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge H.S.) also has experience in goal. While the school’s Outstanding Senior Women’s Scholar-Athlete Award recipient Amy Zimmerman was officially the starter a year ago, Swope saw time in all but five games — starting seven. She finished third in the MAC in goals-against average (9.35) and fourth in save percentage (.508). She made 67 saves in 417 minutes.
THE SCHEDULE
The Crusaders play their MAC opener as the fourth of a five-game season-opening road trip. Among those games is a 7 p.m. night game at new opponent Montclair State.
Susquehanna plays four of its six conference games at home this season, including the rematch with defending champ Drew on Saturday, April 24. That could be key for the team’s championship drive in an improving conference.
“The conference is in a growing stage right now with most teams getting better each year. There are no pushovers,” said Lucido.
| The James W. Garrett Sports Complex, Publications, and Sports Information |
| Hours: 8:15 - 4:30 M-F (Academic year) 8:00 - 4:00 (Summer) | |
| Phone: 717-372-4119 Fax: 717-372-4048 E-mail: supubrel@susqu.edu |