COLLEGE PREVIEW 2013 NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN TOP 20 DARTMOUTH
2012 RECORD: 12-5 (5-2 IVY) COACH: AMY PATTON (21ST YEAR)
BIG GREEN 11
Feb 23 at Oregon Feb 27 New Hampshire Mar 2 at Yale Mar 6 at Boston University Mar 9 Florida Mar 17 at Duke Mar 19 at Davidson Mar 23 at Columbia Mar 27 Vermont Mar 30 Brown Apr 6 Cornell Apr 12 at Penn Apr 14 at Maryland Apr 20 Princeton Apr 26 Harvard
Amy Patton forecasted Kelsey Johnson’s potential when Johnson came out of Thayer (Mass.) Academy in 2009. “Kelsey is relentless in the midfi eld and her
athleticism makes her dominant between the 30s,” Patton said on Dartmouth’s website. “She is aggressive and great on the draw.” Though it’s been four years since Patton released that statement, Johnson fi nally has the chance to show what she was talking about. Johnson will move from low defense to midfi eld this year, with a chance to play attack and become a factor on draw controls too. “I played midfi eld all through high school,” she said. “It’s where my true passion lies.” Johnson has been heavily involved on defense for the Big Green. She started 48 of her fi rst 49 games, and she was given major responsibility early. She stifl ed Ivy League Player of the Year Ali DeLuca of Penn in the 2010 conference championship game as a freshman to earn all-tournament team accolades. Johnson was a second-team All-Ivy League selection in 2011 and an all-tournament pick last year when she helped Dartmouth shut out Penn for a 44-minute stretch in the Big Green’s 6-4 comeback victory.
But Johnson missed the endless action at midfi eld.
Each year, the Big Green toyed with the idea of returning Johnson to her scholastic position, but she proved too valuable on the defensive end.
Now Johnson will get her chance. She and fellow senior tri-captain Courtney Bennett will rotate between midfi eld and low defense. It’s a way to shore up the defense and get both more involved in the Dartmouth midfi eld that was hurt by the graduation of Ivy League Player of the Year Sarah Plumb, Kirsten Goldberg and Hilary Smith. “Kelsey or Courtney has to be in our defensive end,” Patton said. “We need them both on the fi eld. I don’t want to exhaust them through the midfi eld. They’re both prolifi c defenders.” Johnson worked on playing both ends through the fall and during the team’s December playing tour in Australia.
“I’ve found it came back quickly,” Johnson said. “I’m getting more used to the attack plays. Even after just [the fi rst] week, it’s getting easier and more fun... I want to be a big presence. Whether I’m setting up teammates or scoring, I’m going to do it to the best of my ability.”
70 LACROSSE MAGAZINE February 2013 >>
Kelsey Johnson
RIVAL COACHES SAY “Everything went through Plumb. They’ll have to prepare other kids to step up… Giovanniello is one of the best keepers in the country, to go with tenacious defenders in Johnson and Bennett… With the Ivy League starting later, it takes a while for Dartmouth to get going. But look out come April.”
TOP RETURNER G Kristen Giovanniello (Jr.) The 2011 Ivy League Rookie of the Year closed her second season with an MVP performance, making 16 saves in the Big Green’s run to the Ivy League title. Giovanniello led the nation in save percentage most of last year. Surrounded by less experience now, she will have the chance to cement her place as an All-American.
X-FACTOR
M Courtney Bennett (Sr.) Bennett still will play
midfi eld, but she also will boost the low defense. Moving Bennett back should fortify an area of concern. “I wouldn’t want to play against Courtney Bennett,” Patton said. “She’s a very tough defender.”
Senior attacker
Hana Bowers could be in for a big year after Amy Patton moved her behind the goal to take advantage of her off-ball talents.
— Justin Feil 82
PROJECTED STARTERS
A Lindsey Allard (Jr.) * G: 19 A: 10
A Hana Bowers (Sr.) * G: 22 A: 7
A Liz Calby (Jr.) * G: 20 A: 5
M Courtney Bennett (Sr.) * DC: 15 GB: 12
M Kelsey Johnson (Sr.) * DC: 7 GB: 18
M Jaclyn Leto (Fr.) G: 112 A: 48 (at Chatham High)
M Christine Lushefski (So.) G: 2
GB: 2
M: Frances Bird (So.) * GB: 12 DC: 9
D Kyra Hansson (Sr.) GP: 5 CT: 1
D Bailey Johnson (Jr.) * GB: 16 CT: 8
D Kara Lehman (Jr.) GB: 1 CT: 2
G Kristen Giovanniello (Jr.) * GAA: 9.01 SV%: 47.5
* returning starters TELLING NUMBER
who graduated. Dartmouth must replace her record total to take pressure off its defense. A Publication of US Lacrosse
Draw controls for Ivy League Player of the Year Sarah Plumb,
©JOHN AND MATT RISLEY (KJ, HB); ©DARTMOUTH (KG)
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100