Beth Vonderbrink
After a 2007 season in which the Wittenberg women's lacrosse team had to adjust to a new coach and system, optimism abounds that the Tigers will soon be back on the winning track. The high hopes for second-year Head Coach Kati Robbins' team are buoyed by the return of 14 letterwinners and an infusion of talent in an outstanding recruiting class.
The Tiger offense starts with senior midfielder Amber Cupples (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster), a two-time team MVP who led the team with 23 goals, 11 assists and 42 draw controls in 2007. Her 42 draw controls were just two behind the single season record of 44 set by Jodi Ahnmark in 1996. Cupples was honored for her fine play with second-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) honors for a second straight year.
She will be joined on the attack by junior midfielder Megan Meige (Columbus, Ohio/DeSales) who totaled 12 goals and nine assists last season. Meige trailed only Cupples in draw controls with 31 on the year, and she also received NCAC recognition as she was picked up honorable mention honors.
Other offensive contributors include junior attacker Lizzie Amorello (Sutton, Mass./Worcester Academy), who finished second on the team in goals with 17 a year ago, including one game-winner, and senior midfielder Molly Floyd (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Hathaway Brown), who was fourth on the team with 15 goals to go along with five assists in her first season in the Red & White. Floyd also had the highest shooting percentage on the team at .469.
In the midfield, the Tigers also return juniors Hannah Cupples (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster) and Cait Mather (Mason, Ohio/Mason) and sophomores Joelle Ghanem (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) and Lauren Stets (Westerville, Ohio/North), who was named the team's Most Improved Player at the end of last season. Sophomore attacker Erika Brandewie (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) and junior attacker Ronni Appenbrink (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) round out the returning letterwinners on the offensive end of the field.
On defense, the Tigers will be led by junior Beth Vonderbrink (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame). Also an all-conference field hockey performer, Vonderbrink picked up second-team All-NCAC and third-team All-West Region honors after leading the Tigers with 44 ground balls and 28 caused turnovers. Vonderbrink will receive help from sophomore Andrea Berry (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville North), who started all 14 games for the Tigers in her first year and picked up 20 ground balls, and returning letterwinner Hannah Fox (Carmel, Ind./Cathedral).
In goal the Tigers will turn to sophomore Bonnie Kenney (Lutherville, Md./Park School), who split time with current assistant coach Sarah Zane a year ago. Kenney led the team with 62 saves in 2007.
An influx of talented first-year players figures to make a big difference. FreshmanJordan Beauchamp (Noblesville, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) was a high school All-American who figures prominently in the team's midfield plans, while sophomore Chelsea Sickmann (St. Louis, Mo./Ursuline Academy) transferred from Fontbonne after leading her team in scoring. In addition, freshman Hannah Walsh (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) is a low defender from an outstanding high school program who is expected to step in quickly.
Written By: Sarah Fetters '08