The Wittenberg women's lacrosse team has built some momentum recently as its win total has increased four straight years, from three wins in 2006 and 2007 to nine victories in 2010. Now in her second season in Springfield, Head Coach Nichole Johnson welcomes 16 letterwinners, including 10 starters, back in hopes of reaching double figures in wins for the first time since 1990.
Seven student-athletes reached double figures in goals during the 2010 season, and six of them return to the line-up. In addition, senior Jordan Beauchamp (Noblesville, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern), a second-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) selection after scoring 34 goals and totaling 48 points in 2009, figures to increase her production after scoring nine goals in just six games due to a preseason injury.
She has plenty of help on the attack, starting with junior Jenn Close (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest), who picked up much of the slack a year ago to finish with team-highs of 37 goals and 52 total points to earn second-team All-NCAC honors. Senior Maggie Amorello (Sutton, Mass./Worcester Academy), who has earned multiple All-NCAC awards in both lacrosse and soccer during her collegiate career, tied for second on the team with 29 goals a year ago, including a pair of game-winners.
In addition, freshman Erin Guiliano (Loveland, Ohio/Kings) returns after joining Amorello on the honorable mention All-NCAC list in 2010. She ranked among the team leaders in 2010 with 24 goals, 29 total points, 31 ground balls and 27 draw controls. Junior Lindsey Hanners (New Albany, Ohio/Columbus School for Girls) added 22 goals to the attack a year ago, sophomore Kellen Morrissey (Aurora, Colo./Smoky Hill) chipped in with 22 goals, nine assists, 37 ground balls and 26 draw controls, and junior Krissy Battles (Kingwood, Texas/Kingwood) ranked second on the team with 18 assists.
Defensively, the top returning players are sophomore Katie Warner (Delaware, Ohio/Olentangy), who ranked second on the team with 39 ground balls and third with 11 caused turnovers, and juniors Katie Frey (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston), who finished among the team leaders with 23 ground balls and 15 draw controls, and Jessica Mead (Columbus, Ohio/The Wellington School), who contributed 21 ground balls while starting all 15 games in 2010.
They are backed by junior goalkeeper Jenny Schaafsma (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids), who earned all-conference honors in field hockey each of the last two years. She has split time in the lacrosse net the last two years, turning in a particularly strong 2010 season with an 11.08 goals against average and a .522 saves percentage.
Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photos By: Erin Pence