Lehigh University Athletics
Experienced squad eyes top spot in P.L.
2/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
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The Lehigh Mountain Hawks look stronger than ever for the 2010 season and are poised to make a run at a Patriot League championship. Last year, in her first season as head coach, Jill Redfern’s squad posted an impressive 11-6 record on their way to earning a number two seed in the conference tournament. From the record-setting eight student-athletes placed on the 2009 All-Patriot League team, Lehigh returns six this season, including Lauren Dykstra, the 2009 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year. Joining these returners will be a solid group of underclassmen and another talented freshmen class, establishing Lehigh as a Patriot League front-runner this season. The Mountain Hawks roster also boasts the last three conference Rookies of the Year.
Lehigh returns a pair of potent attackers this season in senior Inneke Carmola and sophomore Kelly Draper. A 2009 All-Patriot League First-Team selection, Carmola returns for her senior campaign ranking among the nation’s active leaders with 116 goals and 51 assists during her tenure for the Brown and White. Last season, Carmola netted 28 goals and dished out a team leading 25 assists. As a sophomore, Carmola was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week twice and was a member of the All-Tournament team. She finished that season with 42 goals, 20 assists and added 29 ground balls, while as a freshman she earned the league’s Rookie of the Year award. Draper, the 2009 Patriot League Rookie of the Year and a Second Team All-League selection, will look to continue an impressive start to her career after scoring 37 goals in her freshman season. The New Jersey native scored at least one goal in all but one game for the Mountain Hawks a season ago. The team will look to Draper and Carmola to quarterback Lehigh’s attack in 2010.
Junior Allison Thomas is poised to make the move from midfield to attack this year. Thomas has made the All-League Teams in each of her first two seasons, including in 2009 where she posted totals of 18 goals, 24 points and 50 ground balls. She also caused 11 turnovers and won 28 draw controls. Thomas excels on the draw and will key the ride for the Mountain Hawks.
Incoming freshmen Megan Kelly, Celia Belmonte, and Annalise Penikis will round out the Lehigh attack. Kelly is expected to make an immediate impact for the Brown and White. She was a two time All-American at Mendham High School in New Jersey and was named the All-Area Player of the Year in 2009. Belmonte hails from Fair Haven, New Jersey and enters Lehigh after a successful high school career where she finished ranked tenth in the state in career points with 309. Penikis, who will also vie for time on attack, was an honorable mention All-American as well as a First-Team All-Central and All-Delco selection at Strath Haven High School in Pennsylvania. She scored 98 goals in her senior season alone.
Lehigh’s midfield will be led by Lauren Dykstra, a 2009 Regional All-American. Dykstra found the back of the net 67 times last season and led the country with 82 ground balls. She has already scored 131 goals in two seasons for the Brown and White and will once again be looked upon to lead the Lehigh offense. Joining Dykstra in the midfield are sophomore Lauren Murray and freshman Anna Patterson. Murray scored 12 goals and scooped up 20 ground balls as she appeared in every game for Lehigh in 2009. She is poised to have a breakout season for the Mountain Hawks in 2010. Patterson hails from Maryland state champion Severna Park High School, where she was a First-Team All-County selection. She is expected to be a steady force in the midfield.
Freshmen Julie McBrien and Ashton Hellmuth will add depth and athleticism to Lehigh’s midfield. McBrien was a multi-sport athlete in high school in New York and earned three All-League nods and a pair of All-Section accolades on the lacrosse field. Hellmuth garnered All-American, All-State, and All-Conference accolades at Bishop Ireton High School where she set the school record for goals with 180.
Anchoring Lehigh’s defense will be sophomore Leigh Ann Torcivia and junior Kindall Healy. One of the speedier players on the Mountain Hawks’ roster, Torcivia started 12 games in 2009, while totaling 41 ground balls, which ranked among the Patriot League leaders. She also ranked second on the team with 37 draw controls. She was recognized for her efforts as an All-League performer in her rookie season. Healy has appeared in 27 games throughout her career and scored 13 goals in that time. Last year the Connecticut native started 11 games and scooped up 18 ground balls.
Newcomers Kenzie Dambach and Alissa Hardiman will look to make an immediate impact on defense for the Mountain Hawks. Dambach earned First-Team All-County, All-Conference and All-Area laurels as a senior as well as a spot on the All-State Second Team and the honorable mention All-American squad out of West Morris Mendham High School in New Jersey. Hardiman, meanwhile, was also an honorable mention All-American and a two time First-Team All-Conference and All-South Jersey honoree at Shawnee High School in New Jersey. Lehigh will look to sophomores Morgan Miller, Ali Luongo, and Anna Pierce to challenge for time on defense along with senior Lindsey Smith.
Senior Kelsy Ferris and freshman MaryLeah DiNisco will be the backbone of Lehigh’s defense. Ferris is a veteran goalkeeper, having made the All-Patriot League team each of the last two seasons. She enters her senior year with 474 career saves and 29 victories in three years in the net. She stopped 121 shots a season ago while posting a career-high in goals against average. DiNisco was a four year starter in high school, totaling 633 saves in 1,144 career minutes, and earned All-America accolades on two occasions. She was also a two time All-League selection.
Lehigh Women's Lacrosse Season Preview
