COLLEGE PREVIEW 2013 NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN TOP 20 OHIO STATE
2012 RECORD: 21-2 (4-1 ALC) COACH: ALEXIS VENECHANOS (3RD YEAR)
BUCKEYES 13
Feb 16 at Louisville Feb 20 at William & Mary Feb 23 vs. Boston College Feb 27 at Notre Dame Mar 2 vs. Stanford Mar 10 vs. Canisius Mar 23 at Florida Mar 27 at Northwestern Mar 30 vs. Hofstra Apr 3 vs. San Diego State Apr 7 vs. Vanderbilt Apr 14 at Penn State Apr 20 at Duke Apr 21 at High Point Apr 28 vs. Johns Hopkins
The American Lacrosse Conference has developed a reputation as a high-scoring league. Northwestern’s offensive profi ciency is largely why the Wildcats have won fi ve
ALC titles and seven NCAA championships, and the other teams in the conference have to keep pace to have a shot at beating them. The ALC’s six teams averaged 12.67 goals per game last season, led by Florida (15.32). Ohio State coach Alexis Venechanos thinks that trend is due for a reversal. Venechanos, the former All-American Maryland goalkeeper
and Northwestern assistant, likes tough defense and good goaltending. She has that in spades on her team, beginning with goalie Tori DeScenza. The sophomore had a strong freshman campaign, fi nishing with a 49.4 save percentage. She made 16 saves against Northwestern and 15 against Florida. “She had her best moments on the big stage,” Venechanos said. “Her last moments against
Florida, she played with a passion I hadn’t seen from a goalie in a while.”
The Buckeyes had the
nation’s No. 9 defense, allowing 8.76 goals per game, and the unit returns entirely intact. Juniors Heather Gravinese and Tayler Kuzma combined for 31 caused turnovers. “Heather and Tayler are our
close-out defenders,” Venechanos said, “the glue that keeps things together.”
Ohio State lost three of its top four scorers. Sophomore Jackie Cifarelli, the Buckeyes’ second-leading scorer in 2012, has emerged as a leader. Cifarelli will get support from junior attacker Katie Chase, who played in just 12 games last season after a slow recovery from an old injury that caused her to redshirt the 2011 season. Venechanos had a stroke of luck with Ohio State’s academic new calendar. The school switched from quarters to semesters, which meant the players were back on campus six weeks earlier. The Buckeyes also played a tough fall ball schedule — with games against Northwestern, Notre Dame, Stanford, Georgetown and Virginia — and had more time to get in shape. “We had everyone kind of blow out their numbers from last year,” Venechanos said. “We played with two or three midfi eld lines in fall ball, and we have different combinations of speed and capability. They’ll complement the defense really well.”
— C.L. 72 LACROSSE MAGAZINE February 2013 >> Tayler Kuzma
RIVAL COACHES SAY “Tori DeScenza is one of the best goalies we faced last year. She’s smart and composed. I was like, ‘Oh we have a chance because of this young goalie.’ No.… They’re not a team that comes in wishy-washy. They’re confi dent. They’re aggressive. They’re fi erce.”
TOP RETURNER A Jackie Cifarelli (So.) The sophomore was Ohio State’s second-leading scorer last year, ranking only behind Alayna Markwordt, the Buckeyes’ all-time points leader. She will be the backbone of an attack depleted by graduation.
X-FACTOR A Katie Chase (Jr.)
After an injury-riddled start to her career, Chase cracked the starting lineup toward the end of 2012 and is healthy and confi dent heading into 2013. Besides having good aim — she shot 56.2 percent — Chase contributes on the circle during draws.
PROJECTED STARTERS
A Jackie Cifarelli (So.)* G: 26 A: 32
A Katie Chase (Jr.) G: 9
A: 1
A Hallie Keselman (So.)* G: 6
A: 2
M Jennifer Porretto (So.)* G: 12 A: 2
M Taylor Donohue (So.) * DC: 14 GB: 13
M Mary Kate Facchina (So.) G: 12 DC: 18
M Cara Facchina (Jr.) * G: 17 A: 11
M: Hallie Keselman (So.)* G: 6
A: 2
D Tayler Kuzma (Jr.) * GB: 35 CT: 16
D Kelsey Heine (Sr.) * GB: 9 CT: 6
D Heather Gravinese (Jr.) * GB: 26 CT: 15
G Tori DeScenza (So.)* GAA: 9.21 SV%: 49.4
* returning starters TELLING NUMBER Sophomore Jackie
Cifarelli is the latest scoring sensation in Columbus. Can she carry the Ohio State attack?
117
Capuzzi and Kirsten Donahue. All three have graduated. Cifarelli is now the go-to player. A Publication of US Lacrosse
Combined goals scored by Alayna Markwordt, Gabby
©BILL DANIELEWSKI (TK, JC); ©OHIO STATE (TD)
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