Setting the Scene:
The Wittenberg University women's lacrosse team put together an improbable run in 2003, winning eight of its last 10 games and finishing third in the North Coast Athletic Conference for the first time in school history. The Tigers started the season 0-4, but, led by senior goaltender Rebecca Russ (Louisville, Ky./Sacred Heart), they rallied to finish 5-2 in the NCAC regular season and hand eventual champion Wooster its only conference defeat. Russ moved into goal before the fifth game of the season due to an injury and played suberbly, finishing second in the NCAC in saves percentage.
Wittenberg won six straight games to close the regular season before losing in the NCAC Tournament semifinals to perennial powerhouse Denison 8-6. While Russ was the key to the team's improved defensive effort, senior midfielder Cara Romanowski (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) and sophomore attacker Jenny Burns (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman)ranked among the NCAC's offensive leaders. Burns, who topped the team with 62 total points, became the first Tiger player in nearly a decade to earn All-America accolades as she was placed on the third team.
Record-Breaker:
Cara Romanowski made a significant impression upon both the Wittenberg and NCAC record books in the 2003 season. In a 12-6 victory over Allegheny on April 27, Romanowski moved into first place on the Wittenberg career goals scored list with 172, bettering the 164 scored by Jodi Bennyhoff, who played for the Tigers from 1987-90. In addition, she moved into fifth place on the NCAC career goals list, surpassing Elizabeth Barry of Oberlin, who had 164 from 1994-97.
Romanowski, the 2002 NCAC Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team regional All-America selection in 2002 and 2003 scored 54 goals this season and scored at least two goals in 13 of the team's 14 games.
Postseason Awards:
Cara Romanowski, the Wittenberg record-holder for career goals scored and the 2002 NCAC Defensive Player of the Year, junior defender Katie Babcock (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney) and Jenny Burns, the team's leading scorer, were named first-team All-NCAC for their outstanding play in 2003.
Sophomore midfielder Rachel Ridgeway (Montclair, NJ/The Taft School) made second team all-conference. Sophomore attacker Erin Kelly (Edina, Minn./Edina) and Rebecca Russ made honorable mention All-NCAC.
Romanowski and Burns both were named first-team All-West Region. Babcock, Ridgeway and Russ all garnered second-team all-region honors.
Burns went on to capture third-team All-America honors. It was the first such national honor in her career.
In addition, Head Coach Nancy Beck was named NCAC Coach of the Year for the first time in her career.
Super Seniors:
Cara Romanowski leaves a significant void both offensively and defensively as she led the team in goals scored each of the last two years and also played stellar midfield defense. Rebecca Russ was a difference-maker in the goal, despite playing just two seasons of lacrosse in addition to four seasons of field hockey. She was an All-American for the Tiger field hockey program in 2001 and 2002.
In addition, senior defender Lindsay Law (Columbus, Ohio/Dublin Scioto) was a standout player for the Tigers, despite injuries that limited her play in 2002 and 2003. And senior attacker Mollie Stone (Damascus, Md./Damascus) was a four-year letterwinner who missed much of the 2003 season due to academic commitments but still played a valuable offensive role.
Cara Romanowski
What the Future Holds:
Despite the aforementioned graduation losses, the future is potentially a bright one for the Tigers. Scheduled to return in 2004 are no fewer than four all-conference and three all-region players who will now take on increased leadership roles.
Jenny Burns and Erin Kelly are the top returning offensive players, as they combined for 89 total points in 2003. Rachel Ridgeway handled many of the faceoffs and was a key player who played almost every minute of the season in the midfield. She figures to be joined there again by freshman Emily Hiscar (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial), who came on strong in her first year playing lacrosse, and junior Christine Slone (Gross Pointe, Mich./South), who had three goals in the NCAC Tournament loss to Denison.
On defense, Katie Babcock is a three-year letterwinner and a definite standout. In addition, sophomore Jackie Comer (Tiffin, Ohio/Columbian) started every game in 2003 and showed marked improvement.
The Coach:
Nancy Beck (Lynchburg '78) completed her 17th and final season at the helm of the Tigers with a 109-146 overall record. Following the season, Beck retired from Wittenberg at about the same time that she was named NCAC Coach of the Year for the first time in her career. Also Wittenberg's director of intramurals and recreation, Beck came to Springfield in 1987 after serving as the assistant lacrosse coach and head field hockey and swimming coach at the College of Notre Dame in Maryland.