The Loyola University women’s lacrosse team has been honored as the 12th ranked team going into the 2011 season. The Greyhounds will be led by seniors Grace Gavin, who was named 2011 preseason Big East offensive player of the year, Cara Filippelli, and Abby Rehfuss who were named to the 2011 preseason All-Big East team. Other notable seniors– Meg Decker, Kellye Gallagher, Helen McCutcheon, Johanna Gibson, Mary Heneberry, Caroline Hager, Kelly Quinlan, and Meg Steffe will also help the Greyhounds this upcoming spring. With a very vigorous schedule, the Greyhounds will have their hands full. They will play eight teams that are ranked in nations top 20 Team Poll this spring. The Greyhounds are in The Big East which is a very challenging conference, and it will certainly be a task for the Greyhounds.
On February 12, the Greyhounds took on William and Mary in a scrimmage to prepare themselves for a much larger game against the University of Virginia on February 19, at Ridley Athletic Complex. But why exactly are scrimmages so important? Scrimmages help teams iron out last minute wrinkles before the actual season starts. It is also a chance for players to show off their talents in front of their coaches. It gives teams a chance to see a different colored jersey before they start to get into the swing of the things. Teams practice against each other everyday, but when facing a new opponent in a scrimmage it seems that teams tend to get after each other a little more than in a regular practice. “Putting practice skills into play against a different opponent before the actual season starts is good, because it does not count towards our team record,” explained sophomore Halle Gray. Scrimmages are a real testament for a season’s preview. Scrimmages can go either way. Some teams may be affected with injuries, so the team will sit those players and show new faces. Sometimes you win some and sometimes you lose some. But that’s the exact reason for why it is called a scrimmage. Teams tend to normally have two or possibly even three scrimmages prior to their seasons. The Greyhounds will travel to William and Mary this weekend to face a new colored jersey and to give the coaches a preview of who will be on the field against the Cavaliers the following weekend.
After the scrimmage, the Greyhounds will buckle down and start immediately preparing for the University of Virginia. The University of Virginia’s women’s lacrosse team is ranked No. 7 in the Inside Lacrosse/deBeer Preseason Poll. Captained by Cara Filippelli, Abby Rehfuss, and junior goalie, Kerry Stoothoff the Greyhounds will look to make a name for themselves in 2011. The trio will help lead the women’s lacrosse team with confidence on the field as well as leadership skills off the field. Inspiring the rest of the team, this group of leaders knows what it takes to win. The Greyhounds will have many new faces as well. Incoming freshman Ali Carpenter, Taryn VanThof, Marlee Paton, and Katie Reinhard have all made a name for themselves and will push for playing time this year.
Stoothoff will anchor the Greyhound defense, as she was the teams most value player last season. Stoothoff was the third in the BIG EAST in goals-against-average (9.47) and save percentage (.497). Stoothoff also was named WomensLacrosse.com National Defender of the Week after stopping 15 Virginia shot in an upset of the Cavaliers, and the junior made more than 10 saves in seven games. Defensively the Greyhounds will rely on veterans such as Kellye Gallagher and Ana Heneberry. The Greyhounds will have the most depth in the midfield this upcoming season. Gavin, Filipelli, and Rehfuss will once again help the midfielders out. Lastly, Joanna Dalton and Carpenter will look to score this season at the attack position.
The Loyola University women’s lacrosse team has many expectations going into the 2011 season. Coach Jen Adams was very excited with the news, but now the team just has to go out and prove that they can move higher in the preseason rankings. The scrimmage against William and Mary will ultimately help prepare the Greyhounds for Virginia.
Loyola will begin the season at the Ridley Athletic Complex on Saturday, February 19 against Virginia at 12 p.m.