COLLEGE PREVIEW 2013 NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN TOP 10
2012 RECORD: 17-3 (7-1 ECC) COACH: MEGHAN MCNAMARA (6TH YEAR
LIU POST PIONEERS 1
There’s no need to worry about a hangover from the 2012 NCAA Division II women’s lacrosse champions. They’re calling 2013 a new year with new players and a new team. That last part is no platitude. The school
formerly known as C.W. Post rebranded this offseason as Long Island University Post. “We are offi cially able to move on,” coach Meghan McNamara said. “It’s exciting. It’s a brand new tradition.” That tradition could begin with another title. LIU Post features a loaded roster that graduated just fi ve players and returns almost that many (four) from season-ending injuries. “That’s been a blessing for us,” McNamara said. “They’re working they’re butts off getting back into gear.” And the new name, designed to link Post with the rest of the LIU system, fi ts perfectly, because the roster has a distinctly Long Island look to it. Nineteen Pioneer players, including 11 starters, call it home. Among the
Mar 1 St. Anselm Mar 5 at Philadelphia Mar 9 at Southern N.H. Mar 13 New Haven Mar 16 Holy Family Mar 20 Dowling Mar 24 at Bloomsburg Apr 3 at Mercy Apr 6 Merrimack Apr 10 St. Thomas Aquinas Apr 13 at Stonehill Apr 16 West Chester Apr 20 Queens Apr 21 Roberts Wesleyan Apr 24 at Molloy Apr 28 Bentley May 2 at Bridgeport
homegrown contingent: attackers Ashley Olen and Jackie Sileo, the most lethal offensive combination in the country. In 2012, Olen returned from an ACL injury to score a school-record 74 goals. Sileo, meanwhile, led the NCAA in points (141) and assists (98), then proceeded to shatter the championship
game record with nine points in 17-16 victory over West Chester that brought LIU Post its fi rst title since 2007. Olen’s return was crucial for the Pioneers, whose 2011 season ended without a playoff berth. This year, the offense again adds a veteran player with the return of redshirt junior Morgan Chiarenza, who missed all of last season. The offense, which ranked fi fth in Division II with 16.85 goals per game in 2012, will again pile up points. But the defense should be improved with the return of redshirt senior Brie- Claire Drost, who missed all of 2012, and senior Aimee Capps, who started 13 games before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Both should help compensate for the loss of All-American Chelsea Donaldson. With all these returning players creating potential positional battles, it’s surprising — or not, if you consider the Pioneers’ mantra last year was “25 strong” — there isn’t any infi ghting over playing time. “I’m lucky,” McNamarra said. “There are no egos. There’s no competitive nastiness. The girls have earned the respect of their teammates. The players earn it themselves. That’s important. It’s about respect.”
— M.M. 78 LACROSSE MAGAZINE February 2013 >>
Jackie Sileo RIVAL COACHES SAY
“They do the little things so well, and those little things add up... Deadly on attack... They have so many weapons, it makes it quite diffi cult to shut them down... McNamara’s coaching staff is fantastic... They are able to attack the goal from up top, from the sides and from a single player behind.”
TOP RETURNER M Ashley Olen (R-Sr.) The two-time All-American injured her ACL prior to her junior season. That loss is now LIU Post’s gain, as the Pioneers get the prolifi c scorer (program-record 74 goals in 2012) for one more season. Olen teams with Jackie Sileo to form Division II’s most dangerous scoring tandem.
X-FACTOR Bridgett Soares (Sr.) The San Diego native and ROTC member ran track in high school and had never played lacrosse before arriving on campus. Soares started 16 games as a junior defender, then spent the summer at boot camp.
TELLING NUMBER 7
PROJECTED STARTERS
A Jackie Sileo (Jr.)* G: 45 A: 96
A Ashley Olen (R-Sr.)* G: 74 A: 18
A Morgan Chiarenza (R-Jr.) G: 12 DC: 17 (from 2011)
A Abbie Ross (Sr.)* G: 53 DC: 33
M Samantha Losco (Jr.) G: 25 A: 15
M Aimee Capps (Sr.) GB: 7 CT: 4
M Katie Rotan (Jr.)* DC: 44 GB: 36
D Emily Hanifan (So.)* GB: 8 DC: 5
D Brie-Claire Drost (Sr.) GB: 31 CT: 20
D Melissa Rohr (Jr.)* GB: 31 CT: 9
D Bridgett Soares (Sr.)* GB: 22 CT: 7
G Dominique Mosca (Sr.)* GAA: 9.20 SV%: 51.2
* returning starters
Pioneer players who were injured heading into the 2012 NCAA Division II championship game. Four return in 2012, and the fall was spent working them back into the lineup.
A Publication of US Lacrosse (from 2011)
©LEE WEISSMAN (ALL)
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