2007 Women's Lacrosse Outlook

Head coach Matthew Grosso embarks on his third year at the helm of the Quakers and continues to rebuild the women's lacrosse program. Guilford began the 2006 season by defeating crosstown-rival Greensboro College, 13-10, for its second consecutive win over the Pride. The Quakers finished 3-5 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) and earned a spot in the six-team ODAC Tournament with a 21-13 defeat of Sweet Briar. Grosso's up-tempo offense was third in the ODAC in 2006 with 11.62 goals per game and helped produce a school-record five all-conference selections. Grosso and second-year assistant Susanna Young look to build on last year’s 5-11 record with 10 returning letter winners. The Quakers are poised to make a strong run in 2007. Five newcomers join this year's squad to give the Quakers something they haven't had in several years: talent and experience.

Here’s a preview of the 2007 Quakers by position:

ATTACK:  Guilford returns all of its top scorers from 2006. Highlighting the attacking unit is junior Jordan Clodfelter, a 2006 Second Team All-ODAC selection, who averages 2.5 career points per game. She is joined by classmate Caryn Washington and sophomore Allison Brown. The trio accounted for 77 goals and 18 assists in 2006. Freshmen Ellie Merritt and Shelly Nogueira will be asked to make immediate contributions to the front line.

MIDFIELD:  Guilford’s midfield lines feature both experience and all-conference student-athletes on attack and defense.  Junior Mary Hutchins, a 2006 All-Chesapeake Region and Second Team All-ODAC honoree, returns as the Quakers’ leading scorer.  Joining her are senior captains Billie Pellerito (2006 Honorable Mention All-ODAC) and Caryn Stone (2006 Second Team All-ODAC) who begin their final seasons patrolling the midfield for the Quakers. Pellerito and Stone finished in the top three on the team in both ground balls and caused turnovers in 2006. The pair will also rotate through the draw control circle with Hutchins and freshman center Carrie Ernst.  Sophomore Jennifer Abelin moves from attack to midfield to take better advantage of her speed and athleticism on both offense and defense.

DEFENSE: Guilford returns its entire starting defense from last year and welcomes back junior captain Kelly Gonzalez, who missed the final nine game last year due to an injury. Junior Jennifer Maynard, a 2006 honorable mention All-ODAC selection, stepped up large for the Quakers after the Gonzalez injury and returns with sophomore Leah Stettner to anchor the low defensive unit.

GOALIE: Two freshmen, Jessica Bolton and Alyzza May-Callahan, vie for the Quakers’ starting spot in the cage.  Bolton led her Scarborough (Maine) High School team to the 2006 state championship and played in the senior all-star game. May-Callahan was a four-year starter for New Bedford (Mass.) High School and recorded a 62% save pecentage and a 9.63 goals against average her senior year.

Guilford begins its spring competition in February in the Quakers' Lacrosse Challenge preseason scrimmages.  Four teams will participate in round-robin play, including defending junior college national champion Anne Arundel. The playday runs from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on February 17.  The Quakers open their 25th women's lacrosse season in the newly renovated Armfield Athletic Center against long-time ODAC-rival Lynchburg Tuesday February 27 in the conference opener for both teams. Guilford again faces a difficult out-of-conference schedule that includes games against perennial powers Mary Washington, Goucher and McDaniel, plus matches against Christopher Newport, Frostburg, Methodist and Wooster.  Guilford closes its regular season by hosting cross-town rival Greensboro April 18, before the ODAC Tournament begins April 25.