Complete Game Notes as a PDFTHE STRETCH RUNThe final three games of the regular season are on the docket for the Southern Connecticut State University women's lacrosse team this week. A three-game homestand concludes on Tuesday when No. 10 nationally ranked LeMoyne visits for a 4 p.m. start. The Owls then hit the road for a non-conference game at Dominican on Thursday at 4 p.m. and a Northeast-10 Conference contest at Saint Anselm on Saturday at 1 p.m.
SENIOR SENDOFFPrior to the start of Tuesday's game, the Owls will recognize their six-member senior class:
Sarah Cebry,
Emily Horan,
Rebecca Jennings,
Erica Martino,
Lynette Martinez and
Emily Tooker.
SETTING A NEW RECORDWith the win over Merrimack on Saturday, the Owls set a new program single-season record for victories. The old mark of three had been set on three occasions, most recently last year.
DRAWING UP A WINNERSarah Muise had 13 draw controls in the Owls' two games last week, including nine in the matchup against AIC.
PROVIDING SOME BALANCEFour different players -
Sarah Muise,
Emily Horan,
Lauren Anderson and
Emily Orser - each had two points in the Owls' victory over Merrimack on Saturday. Muise, Anderson and Orser each had two goals, while Horan registered one goal and one assist.
PAGANO RANKS AMONG THE NATION'S BESTAs of April 13, redshirt freshman goalkeeper
Vanessa Pagano was among the NCAA Division II statistical leaders in saves per game. Pagano was No. 17 in the nation with an average of 9.4 saves per game.
JOCKEYING AT THE TOPFor the third time in as many weeks, the Owls have a new team leader in groundballs. Two weeks ago,
Lynette Martinez held the top spot, while last week, it was freshman
Lindsey Luposello. Goalkeeper
Vanessa Pagano is currently at the top of the list with 38 groundballs.
THE NUMBERS TELL THE STORYSouthern Connecticut is allowing an average of just 6.3 goals per game in its wins this year, but 15.3 goals in its losses.
PAGANO, MUISE AMONG LEAGUE LEADERSGoalkeeper
Vanessa Pagano enters the week second in the Northeast-10 Conference with 130 saves.
Sarah Muise ranks third in the league with 60 draw controls.
MCCARTHY EARNS NE-10 WEEKLY HONORSSophomore
Jennifer McCarthy was named to the Northeast-10 Conference weekly honor roll for her play in the Owls' two games during the week of April 5. McCarthy opened the week with a two-goal effort in a game at Stonehill and followed that up with a career-high four goals in a 14-9 win at Queens on Friday.
MUISE COLLECTS NE-10 WEEKLY HONORSJunior
Sarah Muise was named to the Northeast-10 Conference weekly honor roll on April 8. Muise opened the week prior with a two-goal effort in a game at Assumption and followed that up with four goals in the game against Bentley. She also registered seven draw controls total in the two games.
MUISE PICKS UP WHERE SHE LEFT OFFAfter leading the team with 48 points a year ago,
Sarah Muise has continued her scoring prowess. She leads the team with 30 points (27 goals, three assists) through the first 14 games of the year.
MARTINEZ PROVIDING A PRESENCELynette Martinez has been a stabilizing force in the back for the Owls once again this year. Through the first 14 games, she leads the team in caused turnovers (24) and is third with 35 groundballs.
DEFENSE DOES THE JOBThe Owls' defense matched a program-record by meriting just four goals in the win over Bridgeport. The last time SCSU allowed just four goals was back in 2004 in a 17-4 win over Mount Saint Vincent. The original benchmark was set in 2003 during a 6-4 win over New Haven. The Owls followed up that four-goal effort against Bridgeport by allowing just six goals in a win over Post three days later.
'POSTING' ANOTHER WINSouthern Connecticut has won each of the three all-time meetings against Post, including a 14-6 win over the Eagles on March 25. The Owls claimed a 22-11 win at Jess Dow Field back in 2012 and a 13-11 win in Waterbury last year.
HORAN SETTING NEW CAREER HIGHSSenior
Emily Horan is enjoying her most productivve offensive campaign in her final season as an Owl. Entering the week, she has set a new career-high with 17 points (14 goals, three assists) this year. Horan also registered a career-high four goals in the win over Bridgeport on March 22.
NEWCOMERS PROVIDING OFFENSIVE PUNCHKennedy Sherman and
Jennifer McCarthy have helped to spark the Owls' offense so far this year. McCarthy currently ranks second on the team with 23 points (19 goals, four assists), while Sherman is third with 21 points (14 goals, seven assists). Sherman's seven assists are a team-high.
STRONG DEBUT FOR SHERMANFreshman
Kennedy Sherman scored a pair of goals in the Owls' season opener against East Stroudburg. It was her first collegiate contest.
SPELLMAN TAKES THE REINSAfter spending the 2013 season as an assistant coach,
Maureen Spellman was named head coach of the Owls' women's lacrosse program in August, 2013. Last year, Spellman helped the squad match its single-season record for victories. She earned her first win as the Owls' head coach on March 22 at Bridgeport.
IN THE NORTHEAST-10 PRESEASON POLLSouthern Connecticut was selected 12th in the Northeast-10 Conference preseason poll, as voted on by the league's coaches.
WELCOME TO THE CLUBThe Owls welcomed 10 newcomers to the club this year - sophomores
Lauren Anderson,
Eliza Doane and
Jennifer McCarthy and freshmen
Sarah Bazinet,
Alyssa Gemmell,
Sarah Horelik,
Lindsey Luposello,
Marley Robert,
Gabrielle Robinson and
Kennedy Sherman.
THE CAPTAINSSeniors
Emily Horan and
Erica Martino, and graduate student
Lynette Martinez will serve as team captains for the 2014 season.
LOOKING BACK AT 2013The Southern Connecticut State University women's lacrosse team concluded the 2013 season with a final mark of 3-13.
TRIO EARN ACADEMIC HONORThree members of the squad -
Amalia Calafiore, Becca Jennings and
Erica Martino - were named as recipients of the Division II Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Award at the conclusion of the 2012-13 academic year.
TEAM COLLECTS IWLCA ACADEMIC HONORSThe Owls were selected as one of just 22 Division II programs to earn Academic Squad honors from the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association. Teams must post a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher to earn this accolade.
MARTINO NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCEErica Martino was named to the Northeast-10 Conference 2013 Women's Lacrosse All-Academic Team.
• Martino started all 16 games for the Owls in 2013. She ranked second on the team in groundballs (32) and led the Owls with 18 caused turnovers. Martino also registered 17 draw controls and tallied one assist on the year.
• To be eligible for selection to the academic all-conference teams, a student-athlete must have met and/or exceeded the following minimum requirements: 1) participated in at least half of the team's competitions and be either a starter or significant contributor; 2) achieved a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale); and 3) completed at least one academic year at his/her current institution. The Northeast-10 Academic All-Conference teams are chosen by a vote of a committee of athletic administrators and Faculty Athletic Representatives (FAR).
DRAWING THE LINESarah Muise finished the 2013 season ranked No. 19 in all of Division II in draw controls/game with 4.06 per contest.Muise totaled 65 draw controls during the campaign. Her draw control tally was also sixth best in the Northeast-10 Conference last year.