2009 Season in Review

The 2009 Women’s Lacrosse team finished the season on a strong note capturing 5 of their last 7 games to finish the season with a 6-11 record, 2-6 in the Empire 8. Under the direction of second year coach Katie Augustine-Moore, the Soaring Eagles looked to a balance between their veteran players and newcomers. Of the six leading scorers for the Purple and Gold, three were in their final season and three were in either their first or second season with the squad.

Leading the way for all players was first year attacker, Lindsay Mitchell ’12 (Arnold, MD – Arnold). Starting in just nine of thirteen games, Mitchell compiled a team high 44 points on 38 goals and 4 assists. Here 38 goals were a team best as she finished ranked seventh in the Empire 8 in goals per game with 2.92, helping her bring home the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year crown.

The anchor of this year’s squad was their veteran leadership, as three fourth year players finished in the top four of total points earned for the Purple and Gold. This group included Lauren Mokes ’09 (Morganville, NJ – St. John Vianney), Sarah Young ’09 (Hampton, NJ – North Hunterdon) and Erin Kendall ’09 (White River Junction, VT – Hartford).

In their final year with the squad these three players combined for 107 total points. Young would finish the season ranked second on the team in goals with 31, helping her reach the 100 point plateau, to cap an impressive career with the Soaring Eagles. Mokes, proved to be the team’s principle set up player as she recorded team highs in three separate categories, with 17 assists, 62 groundballs and 52 draw controls. Her outstanding performance placed her on the Empire 8’s Second Team.

Rounding out the group was Kendall, who finished the season with 24 points on 16 goals and 8 assists, including a 6 point performance against Neumann College. She had the team’s third best shooting percentage as 78% of her shots were on cage.

Rounding out the offense for the Purple and Gold was Mina Schnell ’10 (Southboro, MA – Algonquin), Georgia Markell ’11 (Portsmouth, RI – Portsmouth Abbey),Mariah O’Connell ’11 (Candia, NH – Bishop Brady), Meg Pass ’12 (Owego, NY – Owego Free Academy) and Jessica Reed ’12 (Geneva, NY – Geneva).

In her second year, Markell was a valuable offensive threat recording 19 points on 12 goals and 7 assists while starting in 7 of 15 games for the Purple and Gold. In addition, she finished the season with 24 groundballs. Pass in her first season played in 14 games and added 2 goals and 1 assist.

The Soaring Eagles midfield proved to be an integral part of the Soaring Eagles success this season. Ana Steele-Norton ’10 (Kennett Square, PA – Millbrook School),Emily Zimmerman ’11 (Marcellus, NY – Marcellus),Sarah Ware ’11 (Chesterfield, MO – Marquette), Jordan Donegan ’12 (Syracuse, NY – Corcoran) and Hannah Shabanowitz ’12 (Lewisburg, PA – Lewisburg Area) all solidified an already strong midfield core for the Purple and Gold.

Donegan,Ware and Zimmerman provided valuable offensive support combining for 37 points. Donegan had an impressive season fourth on the team in scoring with 16 goals while also adding an assist. Ware was one of the team’s principle point starters as she captured 39 draw controls, good enough for second on the team.

In goal the Soaring Eagles were led by Jalene McCulloch ’10 (Belleville, ONT – Millbrook School) and Stephanie McClure ’12 (East Rochester, NY – East Rochester). McCulloch finished the season with a 5-7 record while making 94 saves in 620 minutes played. McClure in her first year played solid in goal, capturing a win over Marywood University and making 89 saves on the season.

In front of the cage was a talented group of defenders. Leading the defense was fourth year defender Nicole Silva ’09 (Ashland, NH – Londonberry). Silva grabbed 14 groundballs and added 9 caused turnovers. Behind her was Lauren Jasminski ’11 (Simsbury, CT – Simsbury),Kim Stanton ’10 (Jordan, NY – Jordan Elbridge), Jessica Kischko ’10 (Springfield, VT – Springfield) and Liz Keefe ’10 (Brattleboro, VT – Brattleboro Union).

The Soaring Eagles lose Mokes, Young, Kendall and Silva to graduation.