By Alana Pelosi
Almost year has past since the women’s lacrosse team limped through a lackluster season, and in the looming months much has changed. Experience, as well as new faces, is the cornerstone for the season, and the women are back and better as they look forward to their season opener against Iona.
Lead by defender Alysse Ruszkowski and midfielder Corrine Gandolfi, they take the field on Saturday at James M. Shuart Stadium, the Pride already looks to be contenders in the CAA. This past Sunday, the team got a taste as to what’s ahead and it was sweet. At Princeton University, they scrimmaged Boston University and Princeton and after seeing how they faired on the field they are ready for game time. Before conference play they will face their out-of- conference opponents. While the roster looks very familiar, the schedule has some changes. Familiar conference play is a given, the outer-league play now features Mount St. Mary’s, Iona and the University of Connecticut. Things get even more exciting for head coach Abby Morgan as they host her alma mater, University of Connecticut, next Wednesday. “For the ladies, it’s just another game. I’ll be a little more excited before the game,” said Morgan.
Another thing the team has to look forward to is the absence of the Cornell-Syracuse weekend. While Cornell remains on the schedule, Syracuse was dropped partly because of last year’s win-less weekend, when rough weather and fatigued played a major factor. As the team fell to a disappointing 3-6 non-conference, Morgan hopes this year they can enter CAA play on a better foot.
“We want our confidence level going into the CAA schedule to put us in a good spot to start the CAAs.”
Boasting a roster with CAA Preseason All-Conference picks Corrine Gandolfi, Stephanie Rice, Lauren Whitcomb and Alysse Ruszkowski, the Pride looks to be in a very good position to start CAA play.
In addition to conference picks, the team, which is stacked with depth, even welcomes a few impact newcomers. Maryann Miller, for one, is an attack out of Pennsylvania who Morgan describes as “strong and quick” as well as Liz Falco, a Marist transfer. Falco, who will be joining Whitcomb and Gandolfi at midfield should be another vital part of the Pride’s play.
Gandolfi, who managed to lead the team with 41 points, limped through much of last season bruised and battered. This season however, the junior returns looking to make a bigger impact than ever before. “She has a whole new air about her. She played hurt all last season, had surgery in the summer and now she has her quickness back. She has that air now that she can do whatever she wants,” said Morgan.
Other players returning and ready to lead the way are attack, Steph Rice and defenders Alysse Ruszkowski and Katie Hertsch. Ruszkowski, a senior co-captain will set the pace vocally and by example, as she comes off a first team All-CAA finish last year. Hertsch, who join the Pride last year, is force when it comes to draw controls and ground balls.
With such depth, the team is in a position to regain their CAA title. “They learned so much last year and gained a hunger because they were disappointed,” said Morgan, “they don’t want the same feeling of beating themselves.”
With that fire in their bellies, the Pride is ready to battle. As far as they are concerned, gone are the days of 7-9. This season they are far older and wiser, and the team looks to beat their opponents, not themselves.