WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Head coach Ginny Martino returns the bulk of her “blitzkrieg” offense that led West Chester’s women’s lacrosse team to the NCAA Division II title last spring in Houston, Texas – which is unsettling news for the rest of the country, as well as the PSAC, as the 2009 unfolds with the Golden Rams ranked first in the country in the latest IWLCA coaches’ poll.
West Chester (2-0), already off to a better start than a year ago and currently on a 22-game winning streak, will open defense of its PSAC title Tuesday afternoon at Shippensburg with a 4 p.m. faceoff. The Golden Rams are five-time defending conference champs and the defending national champs in 2009.
The Golden Rams are the preseason favorites to win the PSAC Eastern Division as the conference splits into East and West for the first time. That vaunted attack returning this spring is led by Jackie Baker and Courtney Whiting while the defense is anchored by goalkeeper Mary Beth Green and midfielder/defender Katy Crouse. West Chester returns four All-Americans from a year ago, all up and down the field, covering attack, the midfield and defense.
The Golden Rams biggest concern, if they really have one, is staying focused and motivated to be competitive and repeat that national championship. They all say that repeating is harder than winning it the first time. By adding some tougher games this season like Stonehill, Martino feels that the Rams will be ready in May for the NCAAs. West Chester will see four different teams that are ranked in the top 10 on their schedule this season.
“Breaking the ice and finally winning last year was a big step,” Martino commented. “Now, our focus is to take care of business this season. The pressure to repeat will always be there, whether as national champions or conference champions. The seniors have really been the driving force of this program over the last four years. They want to keep that success going.”
ATTACK
The Rams’ high-powered offense is going to produce a lot of goals again this season, after breaking its own NCAA single-season mark of 424 goals last year. The only departing player on West Chester’s roster was No. 5 Stephanie Kienle. Martino admits that you don’t just replace 65 goals and an NCAA record 143 points without a bit of a setback. However, the 13-year mentor of college lacrosse coaching has her strategy all set.
“We’ll probably utilize about six different players in a variety of roles to help compensate,” Martino explains. “We are very deep in the midfield and have some kids that can play either attack or mid.”
The Golden Rams are expecting another great season out of Baker, who is a returning two-time, first team All-American. She was second in the nation in scoring, behind teammate Kienle, with 126 points in 2008 and her 89 goals led the country and marked the third highest single-season total in NCAA history. She is 90 goals away from becoming the all-time NCAA goal-scoring leader heading into her final season.
“(Baker) doesn’t relish in her statistics, to be honest,” Martino admitted. “She is the ultimate team player. Without Steph (Kienle) this spring, it will be interesting to see what type of playing cell develops up front with the attack.”
Helping out with the offensive duties are Gabrielle Stitz and Nicole Haines. Stitz is a returning starter, who played in all 21 games last season and recorded 22 goals and 18 assists for a total of 40 points. Haines is another returning starter, who totaled 48 goals and 13 assists in 2008, which was good for 61 points. Haines is one of those versatile athletes that could see time at both attack and attack-wing in the midfield, depending on the personnel on the field.
“Stitz really came into her own last year,” Martino lauded. “She worked hard over the summer and came back to us more determined. She will be a strong player going to the goal.”
Adding depth for the offense are returners Shannon Hayes, Jackie Hoover, Devon Lotkowski, Kelsey McGoldrick and Julia Walsh. Hayes and Hoover each saw action a year ago, and Norsoph is an experienced senior leader coming off the bench. Jodi Hammond, Jackie Patterson, Erin Oczkowski and MacKenzie O’Keefe are all very talented freshmen, who will work their way into the lineup in a reserve role.
MIDFIELD
The talented midfield is going to be led by veteran Courtney Whiting, who received second team All-American honors in 2008 for her work at the center position in the midfield. Her excellent faceoff skills will help West Chester win valuable possessions again in 2009 that usually lead to a barrage of goals, demoralizing an opponent’s confidence. She aggressively caused 32 turnovers last season and produced 63 points with 47 goals and 16 assists. Whiting is a devastating force in the middle in so many different ways.
Returning starter Claire Grimwood looks to pick up where she left off last season. She scored three goals and posted a game-high seven points in the national championship game a year ago. She earned rookie of the year honors for her first outstanding season as she produced 46 goals and 28 assists. Grimwood is another cog in that midfield machine that can run. Speed kills in lacrosse, and West Chester’s team speed in the midfield is a huge advantage, both off the faceoff and in transition.
Returning starting senior Gina DiDomenicis was named the team’s 2008 scholar-athlete of the year as well as first team All-PSAC for the third year in a row. She is the backbone of West Chester’s defensive midfield and excels at winning possessions with her draw control skills as well as marking the oppositions top midfield threat. There is nobody in the country better at picking up a groundball off a faceoff and getting upfield in a hurry.
“Gina, Courtney and Grimwood have speed and grace,” Martino explained. “Gina is the calm in the middle of a storm. Nothing shakes her.”
Returning starting junior Chrissy Stokes looks to continue her contributions to the team as she recorded 40 ground balls for the season last year. Also starting in the midfield will be Jen Forney. She is a senior, who will provide leadership and help out with the defensive duties. In 2008, she recorded 19 goals and five assists.
Adding depth to the midfield position are returning veterans Liz Ferraro, Jenny Ingram and Brittany Moore. Joining the lacrosse team from West Chester’s nationally ranked soccer squad is sophomore Ashley Kershaw. The small by explosive midfielder was an excellent lacrosse player in high school, who is recovering from a knee injury suffered on the soccer pitch her freshman year. Healthy for the first time in her college career, Kershaw is ready to contribute. Kelly Klever is another aggressive and talented midfielder.
DEFENSE
Katy Crouse returns to the starting lineup in her defender position as she is coming off a spectacular sophomore season in which she was accorded first team All-American honors. She is developing into one of the Golden Rams’ most aggressive defenders, which was proven last season as she finished fourth nationally with 2.29 caused turnovers per game. She also received defender of the year plaudits in Division II by Womenslacrosse.com.
Returning starter Lauren Tatios received second-team All-PSAC honors last season. She has become one of the two staples in West Chester’s last line of defense over the past two seasons. Tatios also recorded a total of 42 groundballs for the season.
Perhaps West Chester’s most talented defender, who will play an important role in the team’s defense this season is Kimberlee Hachen. She recorded 38 groundballs and 26 caused turnovers in 2008. Adding depth to the defense are Jill Morris and newcomers Tiffanie Whitely and Andrea Smith.
“(Hachen) watches the inside on defense. She is solid, but not flashy, and she is great at breaking the ball out of pile and starting the rush up field.”
Senior goalkeeper Mary Beth Green returns as a second team All-American and the defensive MVP of the NCAA Championships in 2008. The Golden Rams are 39-3 in the past two seasons with Green in the cage. Her 6.83 goals against average ranked third in the nation last season. Backing up Green in goal is senior Brittany Barnes, who is playing her first season of lacrosse after making the transition from the soccer pitch where she was a goalkeeper for the Rams.
“It was wonderful to see MB get some recognition last year,” Martino said. “She is overshadowed by our ability to score goals and our aggressive style of defense in front of her. But, she is tough and has quick hands. She’s a vocal leader out there on defense.”
OVERVIEW
There is no reason to believe that the Golden Rams will not make their sixth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament and even wind up back in the title game for the sixth straight season. The PSAC championships will be held at the site of the West Division champion the last weekend in April, where the top two finishers in each division will convene to decide the crown. West Chester is a favorite once again to bring home the title.
With the speed and explosiveness in the midfield, coupled with extremely talented finishers at attack, West Chester will light up the scoreboards all over the Northeast. The Golden Rams have seven seniors on a roster that is built around All-American cornerstones at all three positions and in goal. Speed in transition, winning possessions off of draws and scoring in bunches has been the staple of West Chester lacrosse during its run of supremecy at the Division II level. Coach Martino has assembled another cast of talent that loses just one player from last year and should dominate the conference and the South Region once again in 2009.
