Women's Lacrosse 2002 Season Outlook - Guilford College

It is just a matter of time before Guilford's women's lacrosse team makes its mark in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) and beyond. Coach Tara Caminiti-Raggett enters her second season at the Quakers' helm ready to build on the foundation laid in 2001. Ten letter winners could be back from last year's 3-14 team (1-7 ODAC), which tripled the win total of the previous year and reached the ODAC Tournament for the fifth time in six years.

The Quakers began on their road back to respectability last season despite a short bench and many new players. The team worked hard and learned that persistence and patience often result in success. Given a young team with little recruiting before her July 2000 arrival, Caminiti-Raggett spent much of last season teaching basic elements of the game. She wants the Quakers to build on the fundamentals learned last year, a strategy that paid some early dividends in 2001. Attack Kathryn Ragin developed into a consistent scoring threat and set the Quakers' freshman scoring record. Kirsten Dexter earned honorable mention All-ODAC recognition and set the school's single-season ground balls standard.

Caminiti-Raggett looks forward to the start of her second season with fall workouts. Her first recruiting class yielded four new players who should compete for starting roles right away.

Here's a preview of Guilford's lineup by position:

Attack: Another consistent scoring threat could create more scoring opportunities for Ragin, who led Guilford with 43 points last season. Sophomore Emily Hulburt looks to continue the progress started last season when she won the team's Most Improved Player Award. Four-year starting attacker graduated Kate Allen '01 from last year's team with 44 career goals and 11 assists.

Midfield: Junior Sara Walters-Bugbee hasn't missed a start in either of her first two years and is coming off her best offensive season. Sophomore Sarah Marshall gained solid experience with 17 starts in her rookie campaign. Guilford will miss the leadership of four-year letter winners Mary Kate Allee '01 and Abbey Weiner '01.

Defense: Junior Katie Rice give Guilford a solid defensive core. Sophomore Kate Hardy works hard and continues to improve each time she takes the field.

Goalie: Guilford has struggled with consistency in the goal ever since four-year starter Lauren Gill '99 graduated. Sophomore Lauren Goodwin should improve on her first season, which was her first year of organized lacrosse.