Dec. 13, 2007
Washington, D.C. - The 2007-08 Georgetown University women's lacrosse team is officially finished with its successful fall season.
The Hoyas participated in four weekend tournaments, the first on September 29 at George Mason vs. Mason and Duquesne. On October 13, GU took on Penn State. The following weekend, Georgetown went back to George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia and squared off against Vanderbilt, Hofstra, the England national team and Towson. The Blue & Gray hosted a weekend tournament on October 27 and played Loyola, Dartmouth and Virginia. Duke, Johns Hopkins, Notre Dame, the U.S. national team and England national team also ventured to the Hilltop for a fun-filled day of lacrosse.
Official results were not recorded at the weekend outings but the games were great opportunities to take part in live action.
"Everyone on the roster played in more than one third of all those tournaments," said fourth-year head coach Ricky Fried. "I think we improved in every facet of the game and the lineup started to take shape. We have as many as eight open positions coming into the spring after we graduated 10 girls in 2007. It's been very competitive in the fall to fill those spring spots. The most important thing is that we didn't suffer any major injuries in the fall games."
The Hoyas lost 62 percent of the 2007 scoring output to graduation but a host of younger players can step up and fill in during 2008. During the fall, senior co-captain Zan Morley (Philadelphia, Pa./Springside) continued her solid play after a 13-goal, two-assist performance a year ago. Junior Bunny O'Reilly (Philadelphia, Pa./Springside) once again showed off her offensive skills after ranking third on the team in goals last season. Sophomore Molly Ford (Reisterstown, Md./Notre Dame Prep) stepped and is coming into her own on the offensive end. Freshmen Kathleen Dwyer (Winnetka, Ill./Loyola Academy), Jacqueline Giles (Ellicott City, Md./Mt. Hebron), Jordy Kirr (Baltimore, Md./Bryn Mawr School) and Allie Hubschmann (Short Hills, N.J./Oak Knoll) all played significant roles in the offense and showed signs of a positive future.
Senior co-captain Patty Piotrowicz (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh) will be called upon to lead the midfield after being named All-BIG EAST second team in 2007. Junior Megan Bloomer (Paoli, Pa./Conestoga) started in 13 of the team's 18 games last season, contributing five goals and four assists and solidified her role in the midfield. Sophomore Ashby Kaestner (Trappe, Md./Saints Peter and Paul) added 10 goals and four rebounds last season and picked up right where she left off. Freshmen Mary Beth Brophy (Berwyn, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) and Logan McCraw (Malvern, Pa./Constroga) seemed to make a smooth transition to the collegiate game in the fall.
Junior co-captian Bridget Noon (Annapolis, Md./St. Mary's) led a young defensive unit in the fall. Junior Jordan Trautman (Mystic, Conn./Loomis Chaffee) made the transition to the defense after starting in every game during her first two seasons in the midfield. Junior Katie Burton (Catonsville, Md./Mt. de Sales Adacemy), red-shirt junior Devon Dow (Potomac, Md./Walt Whitman), junior Margot Ellis (Essex Fells, N.J./West Essex), sophomore Mallory Twist (Cockeysville, Md./Roland Park Country School) and freshman Jenny Wolock (Baltimore, Md./Roland Park Country Day) logged most of the minutes on the back line for the Hoyas and are learning to play together as a unit. Senior Amelia Wesselink (Exeter, N.H./Phillips Exeter Acad.) and sophomores Melanie Hilbush (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh School), Jackie Proch (Annapolis, Md./St. Mary's) and Blake Sheehan (Owings Mills, Md./Bryn Mawr School) were injured for the majority of the fall season but should be back to assist the defensive unit in the spring.
"We're should be a bit more athletic than we have been so that will allow us to play a more up tempo style," said Fried. "I would like to think we'll be able to be more effective in our transition game. "
A new face will roam the Hoya goal for the first time in two plus seasons after All-American Maggie Koch earned BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year in consecutive seasons.
Sophomore Caitlin Formby (Towson, Md./Notre Dame Prep) will have big shoes to fill but played flawlessly during the fall and should be ready to become the GU netminder. Freshman Lauren Thomas (Alexandria, Va./St. Stephen's & St. Agnes) pushed Formby for time during the fall and will be ready when called upon.
The trio of captains, Morley, Noon and Piotrowicz are experienced and lead by example and their unique personalities all bring something different to the makeup of the team.
"Our identity hasn't been established yet but the team chemistry is going in the right direction," said Fried. "Our freshmen had a great opportunity to show what they could do this fall and they made the most of their chances. I expect many of them to compete for significant minutes this spring."
