Feb. 6, 2006

Erie, Pa. - The 2006 Mercyhurst women's lacrosse team is a young but promising squad with many new faces and with a new goal for head coach Cecil Pilson: break into the top 10. The Lakers fell short of that goal last season.

The 2005 lacrosse season was a tough one for the Lakers who were ranked #9 in a pre-season poll by US Lacrosse, but finished the season just 6-9 (.400) overall. This year the Lakers return only three starters and feature four seniors. With the graduation of nine seniors, the team will have to look at its incoming freshmen and transfers to fill in the gaps and make an immediate and significant contribution on the field. Coach Pilson believes "the leadership of our captains and the dedication of our team are going to dictate the future of this season's women's lacrosse team. In addition to this year's squad, the team has fifteen exciting new faces who will be major keys in the success of the team in 2006."

This season the Lakers will be led by senior captain Lindsay Jackson (Churchton, MD/ Southern), senior assistant captain Kelsey French (Corning, NY/Corning Painted Post East), and junior assistant captain Darci Doran (Pittsburgh, PA/Mt. Lebanon).

Offensively, the Lakers will look for production and leadership from French, an outstanding attack player who led the Lakers in assists with 26 in 2005 and tallied 52 points. The Lakers will also look for immediate offensive production from junior Keelin Hollenbeck (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee). Freshmen sensations Breanna Haggerty (Skaneateles, NY/Skaneateles), a three-time US Lacrosse High School Academic All-American (2003, 2004, 2005), and Jessie Horeth (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder), a US Lacrosse High School All-American Honorable Mention (2005), will be looked at immediately to become major factors in the scoring column for the Lakers. Freshmen Katy Miller (Painted Post, NY/Corning Painted Post West) and Tyler Groh (Linthicum, MD/North County) will also be looked at for immediate offensive production and will give the team great offensive depth.

In the Midfield, the Lakers will look for offensive production and leadership from Lindsay Jackson, who tallied 15 points playing defensive midfield in the 2005 campaign. The Lakers will look to senior Kim Johannigman (Cincinnati, OH/St. Ursula Academy), junior Lauren Smith (Charlottesville, VA/Covenant School), a Bridgewater College (VA) transfer, and freshman Kristen Toomey (East Rochester, NY/East Rochester) to take the draws and be the keys to the Lakers transition game. Junior Jessica Hale (Cleveland, OH/Magificat) is returning after a season-ending injury and is looking to step right in to the midfield. Sophomore Courtney Olevnik (Wooster, OH/Wooster), with one year under her belt, looks to be a major offensive threat and solid addition to the defense. Also looking to factor into the scoring column is freshman Page Christensen (Hollywood, MD/Leonardtown). Freshmen Elizabeth Wagner (Rush, NY/Rush-Henrietia), a two-time US Lacrosse High School Academic All-American (2004, 2005), and Alicia Guzzo, (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) look to step right in at defensive midfield to provide a strong foundation on defense. They will be expected to make the jump to the offensive side of the ball as well. Freshmen Rebecca Heintzman (Hillsboro, OR/Liberty), a US Lacrosse High School Academic All-American (2005), and Angela Schumerth (Culver, IN/Culver Academy) will be looked upon to provide more offensive production and defensive talent from the midfield and give the team greater depth.

Defensively, the Lakers will look for leadership from Darci Doran, who tallied 15 groundballs and caused 10 turnovers in the 2005 campaign. The defense will also look upon senior Kathryn Ball (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown Area), freshman Beth O'Neil (Syracuse, NY/Westhill Central), and freshman Bethany Maylone (Cazenovia, NY/Cazenovia) to provide a solid defensive core. Freshmen Megan Foley (Garden City, NY/Garden City) and Stephanie Obsitnik (Zionsville, IN/Cathedral) will lead the team between the pipes.

The Lakers open the season on the road against Queens University on February 25, 2006, in Charlotte, NC.