Lehigh University Athletics
2002 Season wrap up
9/21/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Lehigh's women's lacrosse team wrapped up the 2002 season Saturday afternoon with a 15-8 loss at American. The Mountain Hawks completed the season with a 4-11 overall record and 1-5 in the Patriot League. Lehigh out shot its opponents 370-352 and went .500 on their home turf.
Head coach Jackie Keeley will lose four seniors to graduation, Kristin Strohm, Kristen McGrath, Mary Kurry and Val Jackson. Strohm's presence on the turf will definitely be missed. The senior midfielder led the team in goals with 26 despite missing the first two games. She also tallied a team high 33 points, recorded the most draw controls with 22, and scooped up 35 groundballs, to tie for third on the team. McGrath played in 12 contests, dished out one assist and recorded six groundballs. Kurry started in all 15 games and recorded a team high of 39 groundballs. Despite seeing limited action Jackson posted creditable numbers in goal. Jackson played in five games accumulating 102 minutes. The senior goalie made 21 saves on the season and sacrificed fewer than nine goals per game.
Although she is losing three significant contributors Keeley will return a young more experienced class. "The bulk of the freshman and sophomore class saw substantial playing time this season," said Keeley. And indeed they did. Eleven of this year's freshman saw action in at least one contest. Freshman Barrie Cominsky had a stellar first season finishing behind Strohm for most goals scored with 16. Cominsky also tied sophomore Emily Studdiford for second in points, tallying 21 and tied Strohm in groundballs with 35. Freshman Sara Corrigan was off to a great start scoring 13 goals in twelve contests before she fell victim to a season ending knee injury. Freshman Kirby Wycoff saw action in 13 of Lehigh's 15 games.
Sophomore Vanessa Abbott will return to her starting position between the posts next season. Abbott started in all 15 of the Mountain Hawks contest recording 145 saves and a .487 save percentage. The sophomore duo of Emily and Ella Studdiford combined to earn 19 goals, dished out 21 assists and picked up 65 groundballs.
Keeley is excited about the team's future but understands what she's losing in the seniors. "I know we are losing a lot of leadership and talent in the senior class, however I am extremely excited about having 22 out of 26 players returning," said Keeley. "We were competitive in all our games although we didn't come out on top. Next year with the playing experience gained this year I believe we can turn a lot of those close games into wins," added Keeley.
