2006 Season Outlook - Guilford College

  • 2006 Women's Lacrosse Season Outlook

  • 2006 Women's Lacrosse Prospectus

      Head coach Matthew Grosso begins his second year at the helm of the Quakers and looks to build upon last year's 5-9 record with nine returning letter winners.  The Quakers began the 2005 season defeating crosstown-rival Greensboro College, 11-10 in overtime, for their first win over the Pride since 2002.  Guilford finished 2-6 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) last season and missed a spot in the six-team ODAC Tournament due to a 13-9 loss to Roanoke in its final regular-season conference game.  Assistant coach Susanna Young and seven freshmen joined the team in 2006.  The new faces and solid returning group will allow Grosso to insert his up-tempo style of offense and aggressive defensive schemes.

Here's a preview of the 2006 Quakers by position:

      ATTACK:  Two of the top three scorers from 2005 headline a young, but experienced attacking unit.  Sophomore Caryn Washington (17 goals, 2 assists) returns to line attack along with classmate Jordan Clodfelter (24g, 6a), a 2005 honorable mention All-ODAC selection, who shifts to attack from the midfield.  Freshmen Jennifer Abelin and Lydia Fakes will be asked to play key roles this season.

      MIDFIELD:  Guilford's midfield will rely heavily on its veteran leaders on attack and defense.  Sophomore Mary Hutchins (30g, 21a), a 2005 All-South Atlantic selection, returns as the Quakers' leading scorer.  Junior captain Billie Pellerito (8g, 2a) begins her second season at center, and will share draw control duties along side Hutchins (right) and junior Caryn Stone (5g, 4a).  Sophomore Johanna Breed (10g, 2a) also returns to the defensive midfield to provide added depth.  Freshmen Allison Brown and Carolyn Rodda had strong fall seasons and will be asked to make immediate contributions on both ends of the midfield.

      DEFENSE: Guilford returns two-thirds of its starting defense from last year including sophomore captain Kelly Gonzalez who was the Quakers' best one-on-one defender last year.  Sophomore Jennifer Maynard returns alongside classmate Susie King, who started nine of 14 games last year, to anchor the defensive unit.  Freshmen Laura Milot and Leah Stettner will also compete for starting positions.

      GOALIE: Freshman G Sarah DeCherney takes over as the Quakers' starter in the cage.  DeCherney was a four-year starter at the Charter School of Wilmington (DE) and was selected to play in the senior all-star game.

      Guilford begins its competition in February hosting the Quakers Lacrosse Challenge preseason tournament.  Eight teams will participate in the tournament including national power and defending ODAC champ Washington and Lee.  The tournament runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on February 18.  The Quakers face a difficult out-of-conference schedule that includes matches against perennial power Mary Washington, Catholic, Christopher Newport and Washington College.  Guilford opens its regular season at crosstown-rival Greensboro February 25, before kicking off its ODAC schedule against Hollins March 1.