Feb. 20, 2008
Washington, D.C. - The Georgetown University women's lacrosse team opens the 2008 season vs. Georgetown Washington at Mount Vernon Field on Wednesday, February 20 at 3:30 p.m. Live stats will be available at www.guhoyas.com.
Mount Vernon Field is located at 2100 Foxhall Road NW in the District, just 1.5 miles from Georgetown's campus.
Georgetown, ranked No. 13 in the Inside Lacrosse poll and No. 10 according www.laxpower.com, is coming off a 10-8 season and its seventh straight regular-season BIG EAST title.
The Hoyas, under fourth-year head coach Ricky Fried, were selected to finish third in the 2008 BIG EAST preseason poll and senior midfielder Patty Piotrowicz and junior defender Jordan Trautman were selected to the All-BIG EAST preseason team.
George Washington senior Katelyn Honeyford was named a preseason third team All-American by Inside Lacrosse Magazine on Tuesday. Honeyford became the first GW women's lacrosse player to earn IWLCA All-Region recognition a year ago after leading the Colonials to the six-year program's first-ever Atlantic 10 Championship final with an 11-7 record, 6-1 in Atlantic-10 action.
The Hoyas graduated 62 percent of it offense from last season but does return two familiar names in senior tri-captain Zan Morley and junior Bunny O'Reilly. Morley ranked fifth on the team with 13 goals and 15 points and will lead by example.
O'Reilly made a huge impression in her first season in the starting lineup in 2007 ranking third on the squad with 24 goals and 37 points. Her speed and her scoring ability will be pivotal to the offensive success this season.
In the midfield, the tri-captain Piotrowicz has started in every game in the last two years and is coming off a junior year where she led the team in ground balls. Piotrowicz, 2007 All-BIG EAST second team selection, will be looked to for her leadership and ability to set the tone on the field.
Junior Megan Bloomer is a high energy midfielder that earned her way into the starting lineup six games into the 2007 season and became an instrumental part of the midfield unit. Bloomer ranked eighth on the team in points last season and is arguably the team's most fit player.
Junior tri-captain Bridget Noon will anchor the defense. Noon moved from the midfield to the defense last season due to injuries and became one of Georgetown's most reliable contributors. Her understanding of the game will help her lead this athletic, yet inexperienced, group of players.
Trautman has started in every game in her first two seasons on the Hilltop and led the team with 19 caused turnovers a year ago. Starting this season on defense, Trautman is expecting to be a take-away defender and jumpstart the transition attack.
Game two of the 2008 season for GU will take place on Saturday, February 23 when the Hoyas host BIG EAST foe, Loyola (Md.) at 3 p.m. on the Multi-Sport Field. The match-up will follow a men's lacrosse game between Georgetown and Maryland that faces off at noon.
