BRIDGEWATER, Mass. --- The Bridgewater State College women's lacrosse team has been selected as the preseason favorites to win the New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance (NEWLA). The Bears, who rejoined the NEWLA after a three-year hiatus, received five first place votes for a total of 61 points in the annual preseason poll conducted by the league's coaches.
BSC returns a core group of 10 players while adding nine freshmen and a key goalie transfer student.
“This team has been working very hard for me over the past month,” said third-year head coach Erika Smith. “They are a great group of girls and I thin its one of the best BSC Lacrosse has had in a long time.”
Last year Bridgewater State College finished 9-7 playing an independent schedule. The Bears received their fifth ECAC Division III New England Tournament bid and made their sixth postseason appearance overall. Seeded fourth in the ECACs, BSC dropped a 17-10 decision to Curry College in the semifinals to end the season.
On offense Bridgewater returns three of its top four scorers from a season ago. Sophomore midfielder Shannon Manning (Framingham, MA) led the team with 48 goals while also registering 11 assists for a team-high 59 points. Senior midfielder Lauryn Serratore (Norwood, MA) added 31 goals and 9 assists for 40 points, third-best on the team.
The Bears also return sophomore attacker Katie DeMaio (Port Jefferson Station, NY) who notched 37 points with 25 goals to go along with 12 assists. Senior midfielder Alison Gugliotta (Norwood, MA) returns after tallying 29 goals and 4 assists a year ago.
The BSC midfield will be rounded out by sophomore Kelly Downs (Hanover, MA) and freshman Erin Quimby (Chelmsford, MA) while the rest of the attackers will be comprised of freshmen Courtney Lennon (Medfield, MA), Patricia Maloney (Walpole, MA), Jenny Jones (Framingham, MA), Caitlin Young (Holden, MA), and Bethany Bush (Littleton, MA).
“This year, every single player will play a major role in the success of this team,” said Smith. “It will be hard to get a good scouting report on us because we will have a lot of talent.”
Contributions on defense will come from senior's Heather Anza (Weston, MA) and Robin Serino (Forestdale, MA), junior Sarah Pimental (Acushnet, MA; 30 GB's), sophomore Chelsea Bracchi (Pembroke, MA) and freshman Kiley Brown (Ashby, MA).
The defense will also be anchored by the outstanding transitional play of midfielders Manning (38 ground balls and 25 caused turnovers), Serratore (41 GB, 31 draw controls), Gugliotta (31 GB and 31 CT) and senior Adrienne Berkland (Sharon, MA; 39 DC and 35 CT).
Sophomore transfer Meghan Griffin (Billerica, MA) will be ready to take the net for the Bears after transferring in from Curry College. Griffin posted a 14-5 record for Curry and aided them down the stretch as the team lost in the ECAC Division III New England Championship game to Plymouth State. She earned all-conference honorable mention honors in the Commonwealth Coast Conference.
“(Meghan) Griffin is a huge gain for us,” said Smith. “She has a lot of lacrosse experience and comes from a winning team.”
Griffin posted double-digit save totals in six of the last seven games she started while accumulating a 12.40 goals against average. Griffin tallied 214 saves and a .498 save percentage. Freshman Catherine Weber (Arlington, MA) will also see time in action between the pipes for the Bears.
The Bears start off the season versus the University of New England and Allegheny in West Palm Beach and will then play 9 of the remaining 14 games on the schedule at Swenson Field. In addition to playing its NEWLA schedule, BSC will round out its non-conference schedule playing Salve Regina, Tufts, Plymouth State, Eastern Connecticut, and Rhode Island College.
“We (will) play tough teams like Tufts, Plymouth State, and EConn,” said Smith. “This will help to prepare us for the post-season.”
After their Florida trip, the BSC women’s lacrosse team will host Thomas College (ME) to open up the NEWLA schedule on March 22 at 1 PM. The Bears will then welcome Southeastern Massachusetts rival Wheaton College to Swenson Field on March 24 at 4 PM.
Written by Steven M Miller, Jr --- Sports Information Correspondent