COLLEGE PREVIEW 2013 NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN TOP 20 CORNELL
2012 RECORD: 11-5 (5-2 IVY LEAGUE) COACH: JENNY GRAAP (16TH YEAR)
BIG RED 15
Feb 23 at Canisius Mar 2 Harvard Mar 6 Colgate Mar 9 at Columbia Mar 13 Penn State Mar 17 vs. Albany* Mar 20 at North Carolina Mar 24 at Penn Mar 30 Princeton Apr 6 at Dartmouth Apr 12 Brown Apr 16 at Syracuse Apr 20 at Yale Apr 23 Binghamton Apr 27 Boston University * at Baltimore
In 15 years at Cornell, Jenny Graap has seen many team makeups. Teams with cliques. Teams that got along until losses piled up. Teams that got along, but were not committed
enough. Teams that fell somewhere in between. Chemistry is a fi ckle friend in college athletics. The Big Red’s burgeoning 2013 roster, however, has Graap all smiles. “The collection of women that we have is really special,” she said. “I love the way they support each other.” Graap spoke at length about Cornell’s character — primarily its ability to practice for hours at a pulsating level, then bury on- fi eld competitions in the locker room. “It’s such a nice thing to have women compete strongly and
fi ght one another for these positions or playing time,” Graap said. “It’s a heated battle, but they can embrace each other in the right way so it doesn’t become a fracturing element that divides us. It brings us together.”
Graap must replace a nine-woman senior class — including All- Ivy League stars Jessi Steinberg and Cacki Helmer — that led the Big Red to an 11-5 season and second place in the Ivy League. Cornell also lost about 50 percent of its draw control production. Offsetting those losses is a game-ready, 10-woman freshmen class. West Genesee (N.Y.) High star Emily
Tripodi will start at attack. Maddie Kiep’s skill set can be utilized in a myriad of ways, and her height at 5-foot-10 makes her an intriguing addition on draws, as it does for 5-foot-10 Abby Hanson.
The midfi eld will be anchored by seniors Kelly Lang and Lauren Halpern, and junior captain Chelsea Rowe. Lang often fl ew under the radar as a junior, Graap said, because of minimal scoring totals. But the California native made her presence felt. “She is just so fast, so fi t, and so strong defensively,” Graap said. “Perhaps now without all these players around her, the offense can build around her strengths a little more.” And a new star could be born. Graap pointed out attacker Caroline Salisbury went from part-time starter to big-time scorer (44 goals). Two players who sat out 2012 will solidify
Graap’s defense. Kate Ivory (ACL) was a second-team all-league defender as a sophomore in 2011. Meg Helmer missed last season for personal reasons, but she came back impressive in the fall. And there’s always the fi ckle friend.
— Brian Delaney 74 LACROSSE MAGAZINE February 2013 >> RIVAL COACHES SAY
“They will challenge in the Ivy and could end up in the expanded NCAA tournament... They work the ball well to fi nd open people when their top players (like Salisbury) are under heavy pressure... No. 5 through No. 20 is so competitive. You have to pay attention, because they’re capable of an upset.”
TOP RETURNER Caroline Salisbury (Sr.) “Sawls” enjoyed a breakout junior year playing alongside stalwarts Jessi Steinberg and Olivia Knotts. Opponents will focus their full attention on Salisbury, who possesses not only the team’s hardest shot, but also one of the most accurate Graap has ever seen.
X-FACTOR
G Courtney Gallagher (Sr.) Gallagher has the inside track on the starting job over Carly Gniewek. Both have the confi dence of the coaching staff. Graap traditionally has built her team from the back line forward, and would love to see this question mark become a team strength.
PROJECTED STARTERS
A Caroline Salisbury (Sr.)* G: 44 A: 18
A Emily Tripodi (Fr.) G: 27 A: 75 (at West Genesee High)
A Lindsay Toppe (So.) G: 11 A: 5
M Kelly Lang (Sr.)* G: 9
A: 3
M Chelsea Rowe (Jr.) G: 9
DC: 21
M Sarah Hefner (So.)* G: 8
A: 2
M Amanda D’Amico (Jr.)* G: 16 A: 2
M: Lauren Halpern (Sr.) G: 9
A: 2
D Kate Ivory (Sr.) GB: 37 CT: 23
(from 2011)
D Meg Helmer (Jr.) GB: 3 CT: 5
(from 2011)
D Claire McManus (So.) GB: 9 CT: 6
G Courtney Gallagher (Sr.) GAA: 9.70 SV%: 40.2
* returning starters TELLING NUMBER
Coach Jenny Graap shook up Cornell’s slate of non-league opponents. Penn State, Albany, North Carolina and Boston University are new rivals on the Big Red’s schedule.
114
Katie Kirk (20) and Shannon McHugh (20). Cornell will reload with Emily Tripodi distributing. A Publication of US Lacrosse
Goals by graduated Jessi Steinberg (44) Olivia Knotts (30),
Kelly Lang
©CORNELL (ALL)
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