Women's Lacrosse returns veteran squad for 2009 campaign
New England College women’s lacrosse will look to a veteran crew to build off their 2008 campaign. Last season the Pilgrims finished with an overall record of 4-12 and a Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) record of 3-5. The 3-5 conference record earned NEC their fifth consecutive post season berth as the Pilgrims slipped in as the #8 seed. The Pilgrims faced off against the #1 ranked Endicott College Gulls in the TCCC opening round falling to the eventual conference champions 14-25. The Pilgrims did earn some huge victories a season ago avenging the 2007 season playoff loss to Colby-Sawyer beating the Chargers 10-9 and edged Norwich University in overtime 12-10.
Returning for the Pilgrims will be senior attack Emily Tanguay (Manchester, N.H.) who was named to the TCCC All-Honorable Mention Team for her performance last season. Tanguay finished first on the team in scoring with 49 points including a team-high 39 goals and 10 assists. Assisting Tanguay on offense will be senior midfielder Jodie Dresser (Keene, N.H.) who finished last season tied for second in scoring with 36 points on 29 goals and seven assists. Dresser led the team in draw controls with 41 and caused turnovers with 26 on the season. Senior midfielder Casey McFarland (Webster, N.H.) will play side-by-side with Dresser for the fourth consecutive season. McFarland finished her junior campaign with 36 points including 23 goals and a team-high 13 assists. McFarland led the team with 58 ground balls and was second in both draw controls with 29 and caused turnovers finishing the season with 26. Rounding out the Pilgrim offense this season will be senior Brandi Vittum (Woodstock, Vt.) who started all 16 games for NEC last season and finished second on the team in goals with 33 on the season.
On defense the Pilgrims return junior Danielle O’Leary (Clifton Park, N.Y.) and senior Stephanie Currant (Wakefield, Mass.) who each started 14 games a season ago and finished with 24 ground balls a piece. Junior Sarah Feugill (Derry, N.H.) will also help out on defense and senior Ashley Hutton (Lebanon, N.H.) will return on defense after seeing limit time last season due to injury. Anchoring the Pilgrims in net this season will be junior Alexandra DiRico (Limerick, Pa.) DiRico played in all 16 games for the Pilgrims last season finishing with 211 saves.
The Pilgrims will have a handful of fresh faces who Coach Baldwin will look to make an immediate impact both on offense and defense this season including Sam Aucoin (Henniker, N.H.), Amanda Naime (York, Maine), Brittany Phoenix (York, Maine), and Chantale Lacroix (Manchester, N.H.)
