Feb. 22, 2007

The 2007 Fairfield University women's lacrosse team will look to take the next step towards a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) title, after returning to the MAAC Tournament in 2006. The road will not be an easy one, as fifth-year head coach Stacey McCue will need to replace the program's all-time offensive leader, while mixing in a group of 10 newcomers.

To help soften the loss of all-time leading scorer Beth Loffredo, who has switched sides of the sideline and donned coaching attire, the Stags will look to 22 returning players. Included in that group is eight of the top nine offensive threats from a year ago, the MAAC Rookie of the Year, three All-MAAC Second Team selections, the starting goalkeeper, and team leaders in draw controls and caused turnovers.

Loffredo's shoes were not empty for long as Abbey Goodwin virtually shared them with her from her first game. Only the second Stag to garner MAAC Rookie of the Year honors, Goodwin netted a team-best 41 goals a season ago, finishing second on the team with 46 points. An All-MAAC Second Team selection, Goodwin put her name in the record books for single game efforts as well, with six goals and an assist against Wagner. She enters the 2007 campaign having scored at least one goal in 10 straight games.

Abbey Goodwin, the 2006 MAAC Rookie of the Year, tied for the team lead in goals as a rookie.

Goodwin will find plenty of help on the offensive end of the field this year, with several veteran teammates, as well as talented newcomers to play alongside. One of these options is senior Ashley Chappell. The Stags third leading scorer a season ago, with 32 points, she was second on the team with 12 assists. A leader, serving as a team captain this spring, Chappell's playmaking skills will be invaluable to the success of the team this spring.

Ashley Chappell returns for her senior season with the Stags.

Junior Amy Neville is a versatile player that McCue projects to see time on the attack, but also aiding in the midfield effort. Neville, who had 10 points and 15 ground balls last season, is a good playmaker. She can be counted on to do much of the work key to winning games, but that doesn't show up in the box score. Senior Caitlin Keane, will also serve as a team captain this spring. She has 40 career appearances for the Stags, and is a valuable leader. Recovering from shoulder surgery, she can provide added depth to the Stags attack.

A quartet of sophomores will look to build on their first-year of collegiate lacrosse and provide a larger impact this spring. Cristin Lucena played in 11 games last season with a goal to her credit. She is fast in transition and is an intelligent decision maker. Her speed makes her a versatile attacker, with the ability to play either at home or on a wing. Kim Fuchs played in four games, with one assist, and is difficult to defend as she has a variety of shots.

Kristen Ryan played in five games as a rookie and is still looking for her first collegiate point. She has a solid shot and is strong to the cage, and if healthy has the potential to be an impact player this spring. Mary Sullivan who played in four games last season, will also compete for time on the field. Her versatility, which allows her to play all over the field, is only surpassed by her scrappy and wholehearted style of play.

A pair of rookies, Kate Reardon and Nina Tedeschi, will also add depth and talent to the attack. Reardon is a smart and scrappy player who moves well with the ball and possesses a good shot. Tedeschi will add quickness to the Stags lineup and is a reliable player.

Senior Sarah Masterson will be one of the anchors on the field this season, serving as a team captain. She led the team last year with 34 draw controls and again will set up in the circle. Her versatility allows Coach McCue to utilize her veteran player virtually anywhere on the field should the need arise. Masterson was the Stags fourth leading scorer a year ago, netting 22 goals and dishing out eight assists.

Sarah Masterson had 34 draw controls in 2006.

The Stags will have two newcomers, Kelly Barnes and Erin Rigby, who will see time in the midfield, both with offensive mindsets. Barnes, who can play anywhere on the field, possesses good skills and footwork and is a hard-nosed player. Rigby is a talented player with a great sense of the game, and has shown the ability to put the ball in the net.

Junior Lara Hannigan will again be looked at to contest the draw, where she split time last season with sophomore Kylee Martin, who also returns for the 2007 campaign. The duo helped the Stags win over half, 212-412, of the draws taken in 2006. Both players provide offensive threats as well, with Hannigan netting 16 goals and dishing four assists, while Martin totaled eight goals and an assist as a rookie. Also look for rookie Ashley Jenkins in the center at times during the season. Jenkins has a solid sense of the game and has great skills. She is skilled at taking the draw and may see time there as well this spring.

A pair of juniors, Mary Vallely and Jill Ryan, will also be in the mix in the midfield, as well as giving the Stags additional weapons on the attack. Vallely tallied 11 points last season, with 10 goals, and has great speed. She is an offensive option as well as a top-notch defender. Ryan has played in 29 games during her first two seasons with the Stags, making 18 starts. She has recorded 30 ground balls and 21 draw controls, while causing 12 turnovers. Ryan may also slide into the back to bolster the Stags defense.

Rebecca White will be counted on to play a larger role in the Stags game plan as a sophomore.

Rebecca White and Alyssa Vecchione both return for a second season with the Stags after both playing in all 17 games, with several starts each. White emerged as the Stags fifth leading scorer with 27 points, touching net 17 times and dishing out 10 assists. She also racked up 20 draw controls on the year, and will be counted on in that capacity again this spring. Vecchione was third on the team with 34 ground balls and contributed one assist to the offensive effort. Her defensive skills, both 1 v. 1 and in team situations makes her a valuable cog in stopping the opponent. Freshman Amy Kelleher is an athletic defender, who brings a feisty style of play to the field.

McCue will count on junior Katie von Hoffman to anchor the Stags defense. An All-MAAC Second Team selection a year ago, she was tied for the team lead in caused turnovers, with 22, while starting all 17 games. She had a chance to improve her game further over the summer, playing in Japan with a MAAC All-Star team.

The Stags will also look to junior Caroline Madrak to be a defensive leader. She is a consistent player, who has seen action in 33 games over the last two seasons, starting 32 of those contests. Madrak will be counted on to keep the defenders in sync, as well as providing a consistent and safe option in transition. Classmate Kara Ackerman played in a pair of games last spring with a caused turnover to her credit. She brings a great work ethic to the field every day and her dedication helps push her teammates to excel.

McCue will also look to sophomores Amy Coyne and Alexandra White to continue to evolve as collegiate players and provide time on the field. Coyne brings good communication to the defensive unit and is a good help defender. White is also a solid defender, who possesses good footwork.

The Stags also add rookie Bridget Lane to the mix in the back. She is a speedy player whose work ethic is helping her develop at the collegiate level. Another freshman, Renee L'Heureux, an intense and athletic player, will miss the season with an injury, and will have four years of eligibility remaining.

Lauren Chatnik is the Stags incumbent goal keeper.

Lauren Chatnik is the Stags incumbent goalkeeper, having played in 15 games a year ago, with 12 starts to her credit. She played 721 minutes on the year and recorded 127 saves, and a 47 save percentage. She also recorded 23 ground balls on the year. Challenging her for time will be newcomer Jessica Parnell. Parnell is 5-foot-10 from Nashua, N.H., who is aggressive in the cage and has solid skills.

Fairfield will play a challenging 17-game slate this spring, highlighted by nine home contests, including a game under the lights on Lessing Field. Included in the schedule is the Stags seven-game MAAC Lacrosse League schedule, with the top four teams qualifying for a berth in the conference championship, the winner of which qualifies for the NCAA Play-In Game.

The season opens on the road this season, with a February 24 contest at Villanova. Two days later the Stags open the home portion of their schedule with a game against in-state rival Yale. Road games at Boston College and Long Island University are on tap the first week of March, before the Stags spend Spring Break at home.

Fairfield will play three home games during the week off from classes, hosting Wagner, American and Mount St. Mary's. It is then back to the road for a March 20 game at Lehigh. The Stags then open MAAC play at home on March 24, hosting Marist. The following weekend Fairfield will play at Iona, host of the MAAC Tournament, and host Manhattan on Sunday.

The Stags then play their final two non-conference games of the year, April 4 at Columbia and April 11 at home versus Holy Cross. Fairfield then hosts Canisius under the lights on April 13 and Niagara on April 15, as part of the Spring Back To Fairfield Alumni Association event. The regular season concludes the following weekend with games at Siena and LeMoyne.