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Feb. 18, 2009
Garden City, NY - Adelphi Women's Lacrosse is set to kick off their 2009 schedule Friday, February 20, against Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.
In 2008, Head Coach Joe Spallina, then in his first year at the helm of the Adelphi Women's Lacrosse program, brought to the table a style of lacrosse that was different than most, and one the student-athletes may not have been familiar with. With time last fall and continuing into the regular season, Spallina's up-tempo, wear-you-down style of both offense and defense was preached, practiced and put into effect. The result was a 16-0 effort in the regular season, a 6-0 trip to the top of the East Coast Conference (ECC), and an invite to Houston, Texas to participate in the NCAA Tournament. However, the Panthers would fall in the first round to ultimately finish third. Flash forward one calendar year and Spallina, now in his second year of guidance, reflects on the outcome. "I brought a new system to the table last season, and asked a lot of my players to step into new roles. We were young, inexperienced and it served as a big adjustment period. This season we're a better team from top to bottom. Anything less than a national championship will be a failure." For the 2009 campaign, the stickwomen bring nine new faces to the program and return three All-Americans, and 19 players, which are now familiarized to the style of coaching and play Spallina brings to the picture. "We're well primed throughout with the freshmen class that was brought in and all the returning players," coach Spallina stated. "Not only are the veteran players accustom to me and what I do, but the recruits are too. Some I have coached [at Rocky Point High School] and others I have coached against in high school. The returning players now understand that our style of play requires you to be in optimum physical shape. They have put themselves in a position both physically and mentally to play the game."
Attack "Ceraso is an extremely explosive lefty, who is still constantly finding her own and getting better everyday," Spallina said. Ceraso will be assisted by senior captain Rachel Ray (Rocky Point, NY), a two-time All-American selection herself, and Division II's leader in assists per game (3.88) in 2008. Last season Ray spent the majority of her time in the midfield, this season she is getting the call to the front line. "Every position this season has depth, but it's a true testament of the team when you can take a player like Rachel, and move her to attack. When I coached Rachel at Rocky Point, she left as one of the most prolific scorers. The fact that she is only 45 points away from being Adelphi's all-time scorer is extremely exciting," Spallina commented. Two new faces will also be seen in the front of the Brown and Gold's offense, as freshmen Erica Devito (Wading River, NY) and Alison Staudt (Rocky Point, NY); both standout lacrosse players for their respected high school programs will see time. "With the addition of Erica, we have brought to our game the lacrosse version of a bonafide point guard with superstar potential. She is a very smart player that will freelance up and down the field, and set the tempo of the attack. With her and Staudt, plus Rachel and Ceraso, we can now fully put together our up-tempo attack. We tried it last year and we didn't have the horsepower. This year we do - it's fast, quality lacrosse." The Panthers also feature 2007 ECC Rookie of the Year, junior Allison Tumulty (Rocky Point, NY) in the starting line up, as well as a strong bench that includes juniors Brittany Fronczak (Bel Air, MD), Alyssa LaBosco (Massapequa, NY) and freshman Tara Gangarosa (Farmingdale, NY). "Allie Tumulty is an extremely underrated threat up front. She's a great finisher as well as great off the ball," Spallina commented. "Alyssa has really made a ton of progress and is becoming smoother off the crease. Tara has played at a high level already in her career so she has a very good opportunity to come in and contribute immediately." Advantages up front will come to the Panthers based on the mismatches the offensive threat presents. "Ceraso and Ray will be the featured players of our offense, and the competition knows that. But with the addition of Devito and Staudt, we're going to create serious mismatch problems. Last season they could mark us, this year it's going to be hard," coach Spallina added. Midfield "This is an area that we have improved a lot. The midfield is really only as good as your team because they run from attack to defense, and we have definitely added a lot of speed and skill," Spallina told.
The midfield will feature returning sophomore All-American and ECC Rookie of the Year, Kaitlyn Carter (Mineola, NY), who last season tallied 61 points (48g, 13a). "Carter in my opinion is the best midfielder in Division II. She is explosive and will take you from end to end," Spallina discussed. Supporting Carter will be a new addition to the program with freshman Marissa Mills (Islip, NY), who picked up all-county honors in both track and field and lacrosse during her career at Islip. "Mills is just as fast as Carter is. She was a state 55-meter finalist in track and will use that blazing speed to help with the transition game," Spallina said. The Panthers have added to the threat of their transition game with junior captain Holly Burke (Churchville, MD) and Tumulty, who will see time in the midfield as well. "Tumulty and Holly are unheralded and vital to the team. When they're at their best, we're at our best. Both have shown that they can get open for cutters and finish on the crease." Another threat for the Panthers will be junior Vanessa Sotcheff (Rocky Point, NY), a player who last season saw time in 16 games, dumping in 28 points (18g, 10a) and who has a long standing familiarity with the style of Spallina's midfield, playing for him in high school. "Vanessa will be huge for us. She is a workhorse on the field and has taken tremendous pride in her conditioning over the summer and winter and it's translating on the field," Spallina told. The midfield will have a great cast of players off the bench, which will include senior Laura Bennett (Floral Park, NY), juniors Corinne Pingitore (Jackson, NJ),LaBosco, and freshmen Lauren Fox (Hicksville, NY) and Arielle Burke (Churchville, MD). "Laura is a great role player and brings a lot of senior leadership, and the goals that Corinne scored last season were huge. Last season she started off slow but improved tremendously. It's players like these that really separate us from our competition, that our bench can enter the game and provide quality play," coach Spallina explained. Defense "We pressure the ball wherever it is. One of the key things is taking the attack out of its comfort zone, which is exactly what our system does. Everything is pressure outside the eight and the 12, which relies on communication and one cohesive unit. It takes the offensive players out of their element and eliminates that one outstanding player, which makes it hard to beat on a dodge." Leading the defensive hold will be junior captain Jackie Bogensberger (Valley Stream, NY) who last year picked up ECC kudos for her efforts. "Jackie has the most responsibility on the field, acting as the quarterback of the defense. She is someone who is able to translate what I'm trying to say to her teammates. She knows what is expected for herself and of the team." Making the transition to defense will be senior captain Emily Simpson (Kings Park, NY), who last season in the midfield, posted 15 points (13g 2a). "It speaks value when you can take someone like Emily who was a strong midfielder and move her to defense and her transition has gone well. Simpson is a high-octane player who fits in perfectly with our high octane defense. She's quick and athletic and will use her speed to make the defense stronger." Picking up the low post position will be senior captain Nicole Lein (Baldwin, NY). "Nikki is someone who struggled with the system of defense for some part of last season, but now she is teaching it to the younger players. She is going to put pressure on the ball and chase it everywhere with her tenacious speed." In addition, the Brown and Gold will call upon junior Joanna Zahra (Bohemia, NY) and freshman Courtney Acker (Bluepoint, NY) for their help in the backfield. "When I first came to Adelphi, Joanna was an attackmen, but I saw a real strength in defense with her, where she saw a lot of time last season. She's in very good shape and understands completely what we are doing here," Spallina added. "Courtney is learning the system but is picking up faster than the players did last year. I knew she would immediately plug right in. Her confidence is booming right now." Off the bench the stickwomen will see big help from junior Nicole Liebermann (Wading River, NY) who is also making the move to defense from midfield, juniors Lauren Cornelius (Deer Park, NY), Lindsay Kane (Reistertown, MD), sophomore Nicole Bass (Commack, NY), Loyola College transfer, Mariel Wenzel (Bay Shore, NY) and freshman Lindsay Whitfield (Levittown, NY).
Goal "Fitzpatrick is an extremely talented goalie and is perfect for the type of defense that we play. We don't let up many shots, but the ones we do, she will stop. We expect her to continue to play at a high level, and she will show that she is, without a doubt, the best goalie in Division II." Fitzpatrick will also share her protection time with senior Christina Kozakiewicz (Ridgewood, NJ). "Christina has made tremendous progress with this coaching staff. She is someone with a great attitude, teammate and a role player with a positive influence. Last season she saw more time and will continue to see more this season." Schedule "It's really just a matter of doing what we're supposed to do and not looking over any details. With teams like New Haven, Stonehill and Dowling, it's really important that we are focused and we take the right steps against them." In the 16 game schedule that the Panthers have prepared, the team will make one final stop in Brookville, New York to go up against the two time national champion program, C.W. Post. Both coach Spallina and his 31 student-athletes know that with a schedule like this, one loss could mean an early ending to the season.
"We're not going to adapt our game to any team. Were going to make them play our game - dare them to run with us. We're as athletic of a team as any in Division II. When you return a talent level that we have, and add a freshmen class like we did, the future of this team is extremely encouraging." |
