it. Led by three first-team All- Americans on offense, the Sea Gulls amassed 363 goals last year. Those shooters did not practice
against just anybody. “I take more satisfaction from scoring
on Ashton than I do when I score in an actual game,” Baer said. “I know just I scored against the best goalie in the country.”
Wheatley is 43-1 as a starter, with her
only loss coming by one goal in the 2012 NCAA final. Last year she finished second in Division III in goals against average (5.56) and save percentage (56.3) against stiff competition. A frequent freelancer outside the cage, Wheatley also has caused 38 turnovers in the past two seasons. “I’ve never seen anyone play like her,”
Baer said. “There are practices when I just can’t get it past her. It’s more motivation go out and work on my shot.” So there’s a chicken-or-egg question on
Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Does Wheaton make Salisbury’s offense better, or does she benefit from seeing its shooters? “I think both,” Baer said. Wheatley was less equivocal. She may
have been the most outstanding player of last year’s title run, but she couldn’t have done it without her teammates. “I probably benefit more,” she said.
“The players on the field can do things by themselves, play wall ball. I need constant pressure. If I’m not facing quality shots I can’t improve.” That doesn’t mean Wheatley hasn’t
found ways to work on her game without shooters. After all, she never played goalie until high school. She does footwork drills and to improve her hand- eye coordination, Salisbury coach Jim Nestor made her learn how to juggle. “It was really frustrating and I thought
he was crazy,” Wheatley said. “It only took me a season to learn.” Wheatley’s act has the Sea Gulls
primed to return to a third straight NCAA championship game. But then she will graduate and Salisbury will need a new goalie. Would the Sea Gulls consider giving a younger player some in-game experience this season? Maybe let a freshman mind the cage while Wheatley picks up a smaller stick and takes a shot at that golden goal? “I wish,” Wheatley said. “I’ve thought
about it. ‘Hey Coach, I used to play midfield.’ And he’d entertain it for a second and be like, ‘Hah, no.’” Still, a girl can dream. LM
A Publication of US Lacrosse
Best BETS
Midfielder of the Year BETHANY BAER, SALISBURY
Baer followed in the footsteps of her brother, Brett, to Salisbury and hasn’t looked back. She’s the Sea Gulls’ top returning scorer and has lost just one game in two years on campus.
Defender of the Year JESSICA LAVELLE, CORTLAND
The Red Dragons have reached two straight final fours and ranked ninth in scoring defense in 2013. Lavelle, the 2013 IWLCA Defender of the Year, led all players on NCAA tournament teams in caused turnovers per game (2.52).
Kelly Award (Goalie of the Year)
ASHTON WHEATLEY, SALISBURY
No goalie plays like the athletic, freewheeling Wheatley, who ranked second in Division III in goals against average and save percentage, was named NCAA Tournament MVP and has lost just once in two years as a starter.
Attacker of the Year ERICA GEREMIA, CORTLAND
Last year we saw the start of one of those careers people talk about in Central New York. As a freshman, Geremia led Division III in points and placed third in Cortland’s all-time single-season record book in assists (56) and points (111).
First-Team All-Americans A Erica Geremia, Cortland, So.• A Liza Herzog, Middlebury, Sr. • A Lindsay McKenna, Colby, Sr. • A Tierney Conlon, Montclair State, Sr. • A Kelsey Markiewicz. Gettysburg, Sr. • A Emma Ehler, Susquehanna, Jr. • M Lauren Pigott, TCNJ, Sr. • M Bethany Baer, Salisbury, Jr. • M Caroline Hayes, Trinity, Jr. • M Alexandra Philie, Amherst, Jr. • M Caroline Krohn, Franklin & Marshall, Sr. • D Meghan Toomey, Salisbury, Sr. • D Jessica Lavelle, Cortland, Sr. • D Erica Nangeroni, Bowdoin, Sr. • G Kelsey Hoffman, Franklin & Marshall, Sr. • G Ashton Wheatley, Salisbury, Sr.
Sleeper Team REDLANDS
The West Coast gets more competitive every year and the SCIAC’s top team has reached back-to-back NCAA tournaments. With third-team All- American Jacky Craycraft (pictured), who scored 77 goals last season, the Bulldogs should be back.
Rookie of the Year ANGELA HALLORAN, CATHOLIC
The attacker out of Long Island Catholic League power St. Anthony’s once scored 10 goals in a high school game and was on ESPN’s Class of 2013 watch list.
Breakout Player EMMA EHLER, SUSQUEHANNA
After rewriting the Crusaders’ record book in her first two seasons, Ehler helped them get back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2002 and could top Division III’s scoring list in 2014.
Bracket Buster HAMILTON
The Continentals are just a few years removed from being an NCAA title contender and can beat anyone. Despite disappointing NESCAC regular seasons, they knocked out Bowdoin and Colby from the past two conference tournaments.
February 2014 >> LACROSSE MAGAZINE 83
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