The Fairfield University women's lacrosse team began preparing to defend its 2009 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) title this week, taking to the field for fall practice.  Head coach Mike Waldvogel is in his second season as head coach and third with the program.  Fairfield made its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2009 and have won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) regular season crown in each of the last two years.

"This time of year is very important to the progression of our team," said Waldvogel.  "We graduated six seniors that played a significant amount of minutes over the course of their careers and need to have players step into those roles.  The fall portion of our practice schedule allows us to teach the system to our newcomers and have all of our players learn to play as a cohesive unit."

The Stags began their six-week fall practice schedule on September 14.  Along with their on-field practice time, the student-athletes will also be working hard in the weight room under the watchful eye of Mark Spellman, the Stags Strength and Conditioning Coordinater.

During the fall Fairfield will play several scrimmages, highlighted by a pair of home events.  The Stags will host Lafayette and Sacred Heart in a home tri-scrimmage on Sunday October 18.  The following Saturday the Stags will welcome back their alumni for the annual Alumni Game, scheduled to begin at noon.

Fairfield will play on the road three times in the fall.  On October 3 the Stags will travel to New Jersey to take on Princeton and Delaware.  The following weekend the team will travel up I-95 to Quinnipiac to play the Bobcats and Stony Brook.  On Saturday, October 17 the Stags will play at Yale, taking on the Bulldogs and Boston University.

Waldvogel also announced 11 newcomers to the roster this season, with 10 freshmen and a graduate transfer.  Here is a quick glimpse at the Stags newcomers.

Amanda Best (Schenectady, N.Y.) will add to the Stags offensive efforts either at attack or in the midfield.  As a senior at Guilderland High School she compiled 53 points an led the team to a New York State Regional Title and Section II crown. 

Camryn Falvey (Wilbraham, Mass.) will compete for playing time in the Stags midfield over the course of her career.  She was a four-year starter at Minnechaug Regional where her squad posted an impressive 53-8-9 record.  Falvey finished her career with 277 points with 34 of her 109 career tallies coming as a senior captain.

Nicole Gilbane (East Greenwich, R.I.) will join the Stags midfield after a spending the last two seasons at The Taft School.  She was named a New England Prep School All-Star in 2008 after earning All-State honorable mention accolades the season before.

Julie Hudecek (Wading River, N.Y.) earned four varsity letters at Shoreham-Wading River High School helping the squad to three New York State titles.  A defender, Hudecek was named to the State All-Tournament Team and All-County squad as a senior.

Katie Keenan (Wantagh, N.Y.) is a 5-foot-7 goal keeper.  She played her scholastic lacrosse at Wantagh High School where she earned three varsity letters.  As a senior Keenan made 179 saves and earned All-County accolades.  She served as a team captain last season and helped lead the squad to 11 victories.

Chloe Mangan (Sayville, N.Y.) will look for time in the midfield after leading St. Anthony's High School to a perfect 13-0 mark as a senior captain.  In three varsity seasons she touched net 90 times while also dishing out 75 assists.  As a senior she tallied 75 points and earned her third All-League honor.

Danielle Russo (Chelmsford, Mass.) scored 224 points during her four-year varsity career at Chelmsford High School.  As a team captain her senior season she tallied 73 points, leading the squad to a 16-3 mark and being named All-Conference for the second time.  The Boston Globe also named Russo, who will play in the midfield this season, to its All-Scholastic Team for her success in the classroom and on the field.

Emma Sheeran (Goldens Bridge, N.Y.) will compete for playing time in the Stags midfield after a four-year career at John Jay High School.  She was twice named the team most valuable player as well as being named All-Section, All-League and Journal News First Team.

Caitlin Townsend (Silver Spring, Md.) will play attack for the Stags this year after earning four varsity letters at Holy Cross.  She was part of 47 victories during those four years, including an 18 win season as a sophomore.  Townsend was twice named All-WCAC Second Team her final two seasons and led the squad to the 2007 WCAC final.

Caitlin Young (Wilton, Conn.) comes to Fairfield after spending her four-years as an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina.  With the TarHeels she played in 24 games with three goals to her credit, having moved to the attack from the defensive unit her senior season.  While at Wilton High School Young was named a first-team All-America by US Lacrosse.

Olivia Ziegler (West Islip, N.Y.) will compete for playing time in the Stags defensive unit this season.  At West Islip High School she earned a pair of varsity letters in helping the squad to a 29-5 record in that time.  A two-year team captain, Ziegler was named the team's top defensive player both seasons, and graduated as a member of the National Honor Society.