In 2005 the Hofstra Women's Lacrosse team enjoyed one of the best seasons in program history, posting a 14-4 record, a 6-1 Colonial Athletic Association record, a regular season CAA championship, wins over six top 20 teams and a #14 final national ranking. However, the team lost in the finals of the CAA Championship and failed to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The 2006 team is determined to not fall short of earning an NCAA bid.

To reach that goal the Pride will have to replace 10 letterwinners, including five starters, from last year, but Head Coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe is confident that her team will be up to the task. "I feel like we will take a lot of teams by surprise this year," said Klaes-Bawcombe. "We did lose a lot to graduation, but the juniors and sophomores that were playing behind the seniors are champing at the bit to show what they can do, and we have had a good recruiting year off of our successful seasons. This past fall we concentrated on our team gelling on and off the field."

Though some of the names and faces may have changed, the Pride will continue to rely on overall team speed and an aggressive defense to continue their winning tradition.

ATTACK

The Pride attack will rely on the experience and leadership of senior co-captain Catherine Guerriere (St. James, NY) and junior Kim Hillier (Farmingdale, NY). Guerriere started 16 of 18 games last season and contributed 11 goals and two assists. Hillier was a second team all-region and first team All-CAA selection after tallying 29 goals and a team-high 14 assists for 43 points in 2005.

Sophomore Kelly McGrath (Baltimore, MD), who worked hard in the off season to improve her fitness and mental toughness, will move to a more prominent role on the attack after scoring one goal in limited action last year.

A trio of newcomers - Kendall Gray (Lutherville, MD), Alicia Recco (Kings Park, NY) and Jen Bach (Catonsville, MD) - are all gaining experience in the system and could be push for playing time. Gray was a two-time all-city and all-county performer at Roland Park Country School and played on the Mid-Atlantic 3 team that competed in the U.S. National Lacrosse Championship. Recco was a three-time All-Suffolk County selection at Kings Park High School and was an All-Galaxy selection in 2004 as a member of the Long Island Yellow Jackets club team. Bach helped Catonsville High School to regional championships and state semifinals in 2002 and 2004, and a county championship in 2004. As a senior, she scored 30 goals and added 17 assists. Sophomore Meghan Radonis (East Meadow, NY), a hard worker who appeared in three games last season, will add additional depth to the attack.

MIDFIELD

Despite the graduation of three key players, the Hofstra midfield does return a great deal of experience in seniors Becky Thorn (Holbrook, NY), Jamie Rabuano (Auburn, NY) and Heather Albro (Purcellville, VA), and junior Casey McGrath (Kings Park, NY). Those four will be relied on heavily to win loose ball possessions and create fast break opportunities due to their experience and versatility on the field.

Thorn led the team in scoring last season with 39 goals and five assists for 44 points and was a third team IWLCA/Brine All-American, as well as a first team all-region and All-CAA selection. More than just a scorer, Thorn led the team with 50 draw controls and picked up 37 ground balls. Rabuano will move into a featured role in the midfield after playing in seven games as a junior, scoring two goals and adding one assist. Albro played in all 18 games last season and contributed 14 goals and two assists. Casey McGrath burst onto the scene in 2005 with 28 goals and 10 assists after tallying four goals and two assists as a freshman, and was a second team All-CAA selection.

According to Klaes-Bawcombe, "We have pure raw talent in our freshman midfielders - Lauren Whitcomb (East Rochester, NY), Sandy Wasserbach (Baltimore, MD) and Jacquelyn Hetzel (West Chester, PA). All three are hard workers and can do the little things we need to succeed. They each could provide a spark off the bench."

Whitcomb was an honorable mention All-American as a senior at East Rochester High School and finished her scholastic career with 217 goals and 99 assists. Wasserbach was an all-county and all-division selection at Catonsville High School and tallied 47 goals and 41 assists as a senior. Hetzel was a two-time all-league selection at West Chester East High School and played on the Upper Atlantic first team at the USWLA National Tournament.

DEFENSE

The Hofstra defense took a hit with the graduation of two-time All-American Bridget Eder and two-year starter Danielle Skakandi, but the cupboard was not left bare, as the unit was deep and players are ready to step in. Senior co-captain Jaime Irving (Cortlandt Manor, NY) and senior Kerry McCaffrey (Garden City, NY) will provide experience at the position and nine other players could contribute.

Irving started all 18 games in 2005 and picked up 39 ground balls and caused 32 turnovers on the year. McCaffrey started seven of 12 games last season and recorded 11 ground balls and six caused turnovers.

Freshman Alysse Ruszkowski (Ronkonkoma, NY) has shown great ability after a stellar fall season, which saw her fit into the defensive system immediately and earn the respect of her teammates.

Junior Kara Meekins (Hampstead, MD) and sophomore Kerrin Fraser (Colorado Springs, CO) will also contribute on defense. Both players have developed into smart defenders with great anticipation and timing. Meekins saw action in four games and had two ground balls, while Fraser played in five games and had one ground ball and one caused turnover.

Juniors Brittany Kaplan (Cherry Hill, NJ) and Kim Kozlowski (Merrick, NY), and sophomore Debbie Stellke (Shirley, NY) will add depth to the position. All three players saw limited action last season with Kaplan and Kozlowski appearing in three games, while Stellke played in five games. Kaplan had one ground ball, Kozlowski had a draw control and Stellke chipped in with a ground ball, a draw control and a caused turnover.

Three freshmen - Meghan Turnbaugh (Manchester, MD), Cat Thoreson (Ellicott City, MD) and Lauren Eberling (Phoenix, MD) - will wait in the wings for their chance to contribute. All three have been working hard to improve and learn the system. Turnbaugh helped her Hereford High School squad to state championships in 2002 and 2003, and was a two-time all-county and all-division selection. Thoreson joins the Pride from Centennial High School where she played on a regional finalist team in 2003 and a semifinal team in 2004.  Eberling was a multi-sport letterwinner at Maryvale Prep and was named Most Improved Player as a junior.

GOALKEEPER

Sophomore Maisie Osteen (Charlottesville, VA) started 14 of 16 games as a freshman, though her workload wasn't overwhelming due to splitting time with Lisa Papa, and will return to that role in 2006. Osteen was 9-1 with a CAA-leading 7.43 goals against average in 2005. She has been working hard in the off-season on her quickness and has developed into a vocal leader on the field.

Junior Cassandra Stuke (North Patchogue, NY) will serve as Osteen's backup after missing the entire 2005 season while recovering from surgery. This past fall was the first that she was able to play due to her injury situation and she proved that she could step in and contribute if needed.

SCHEDULE

Klaes-Bawcombe has once again upgraded the Pride's schedule with the addition of defending National Champion Northwestern coming to Shuart Stadium to open the season. The Pride will play six teams, including Northwestern (#1), that were ranked in the final IWLCA poll of the 2005 season with Boston University (#3), Vanderbilt (#19) and Loyola (#20) at home and Cornell (#17) and Towson (#13) on the road.

The teams' first goal will be to win the CAA, but Klaes-Bawcombe thinks that the schedule could work in the Pride's favor. "If we do well with our non-conference schedule, we will be in contention for an at-large bid," said Klaes-Bawcombe. "Lessons learned from last season will help this program understand what it takes to get to the next level."