LACROSSE

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Norwich women's lacrosse team officially opens its 2008 campaign on Wednesday, March 19, when the Cadets travel to Keene, N.H., to take on New England College. The game, which will be played on the campus of Keene State College, is slated to begin at 4 p.m. 

The 2008 Norwich women's lacrosse team will look to build on its first year in the NCAA with an even better season this year. Last year, the Cadets compiled an overall record of 7-5, and made it all the way to the New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance semifinals.

NU will be a member of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference this year, and the Cadets are hoping to win the first-ever conference championship. Norwich moved from the NEWLA to the GNAC following the 2007 season.    

Norwich head coach Tyler Renaud has scheduled four NCAA Division II teams from the New England area in the hopes of qualifying for an at-large bid into the NCAA Division III Championships, since the GNAC has a two-year waiting period before garnering an automatic bid to the conference tournament champion. 

"We have a solid nucleus of players returning, losing only two players to graduation," said Renaud. "The core of returning players, combined with a strong group of incoming freshman, make our team a very formidable one.

"Emerson, St. Joseph's (Maine) and Lasell are all going to be very strong and vying for the conference title, so we have our work cut out for us. Playing Franklin Pierce, AIC and Assumption from the Division II ranks will challenge us as well."    

Renaud will rely on team captains Katie Magnus, Kristen Lewis, Andrea Schmid, Kathleen Hennessy and Ally Daniels to help lead this talented bunch throughout the season. Lewis, Hennessy and Daniels will handle the midfield, with Magnus holding down attack and Schmid leading the defense. 

Returning starters Ashley Haviland, Dawn McNulty and Maura Kee, also bring a wealth of talent to the playing field. 

"We have three newcomers in goal (JoLynn Brewer, Kellie Pickel and Erin McGaffigan) who are all outstanding and will bring our defense to another level," added Renaud.

Freshmen Alex Chaffin, Jessica Allmer, Alicia Compo and Chelsea Martin will be joined by transfer student Allyson Allen to round out this strong squad. 

"With a roster of 25 players, we are going to be able to run with other teams and it is my hope that our talent will help us win possession game to game, which normally leads to victories. The most important thing is for us to create strong team chemistry and bring an exciting brand of women's lacrosse to Norwich. My captains have been challenged to instill the team chemistry, which did wonders for my soccer squad this past fall.  If we have the chemistry, I think we'll be a hard team to beat."