On the heels of its fourth straight Liberty League title, the William Smith Women’s Lacrosse team was the unanimous preseason favorite in the 2020 Liberty League Women's Lacrosse preseason poll in a vote by the head coaches. With only one player lost to graduation from last year’s squad, the Herons return all 12 starters from a year ago.
William Smith
leads off the poll with 100 points and 10 first place votes (coaches cannot vote for their own teams). Ithaca College, the 2019 Liberty League runner-up were selected to finish second with 91 points and a first-place vote. Both were also featured in the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) preseason poll, checking in at 15th and 19th respectively. Clarkson University (77) and Skidmore College (73) round out the top-four of the conference. Vassar College was picked to finish fifth with 59 points and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) sixth with 54 points. Rochester Institute Technology (RIT) was only one point behind the Engineers in seventh (53) and the Tigers were followed by Union College (39), University of Rochester (27), St. Lawrence University (22) and Bard College (10).
William Smith finished the 2019 season with an unblemished mark of 10-0 in league play and an overall record of 17-3. They will look to build upon last season’s success with the return of five All-Liberty League first team selections (Ellie Burns, Anna Murphy, Ellen Arena, Olivia Hofmann and Mekayla Montgomery). Offensively, the Herons return with a lot of firepower from last season as eight of the team’s top scorers are back, including Burns who paced the team with 65 points (53 goals and 12 assists). She was third among league leaders in goals per game, averaging 1.98. Midfielder Murphy will also help with the scoring after posting 44 points last season on 29 goals and 15 assists. Hofmann returns between the pipes for the Herons after compiling an 11-1 record last season to go with a 6.87 goals against average and a .525 save percentage. Hofmann will be joined in the backfield by Arena and Montgomery. Arena was second on the team with 55 ground balls and 32 caused turnovers while Montgomery, the 2019 Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year and two-time All-American, had a team and league-best 62 caused turnovers. She was also tops on the team in ground balls with 62, good for second in the conference and she recorded 93 draw controls, which is a single season program record for William Smith.
Ithaca also had a strong campaign in 2019 finishing the year at 14-7 overall and 8-2 against league opponents. The Bombers advanced to the league championship for the second consecutive season before falling to the Herons. Despite the graduation of Reid Simoncini (All-Liberty League First Team) and Allie Panara (2018 Liberty League Co-Offensive Player of the Year; 2019 All-Liberty League Second Team), Ithaca will open this season with experience on the Bombers’ side with seven returning starters. All-Liberty League second team selection Molly Nodiff highlights the defensive returnees after scooping up a team-high 52 ground balls and causing 30 turnovers last year. All-Liberty League First-Team pick Bailey Herr will key the offense after recording a single-season program record of 97 points on 57 goals and 40 assists. Midfielder Jacqui Hallack (All-Liberty League First Team) is also back and she will help on both sides of the ball after recording 56 points last year (49 goals, 7 assists) and 35 ground balls. Megan Motkowski (24 goals, 5 assists, 21 ground balls, 28 draw controls) will join Hallack in the midfield.
Clarkson (12-7, 7-3 Liberty League) is coming off one its most successful seasons in program history. The Golden Knights won their first-ever conference playoff game last year and advanced to the Liberty League semifinals. There will be big shoes to fill with the departure of Jaid Baytos, who was second on the team in scoring last season with 55 points. She finished her career at Clarkson fourth among the program’s all-time scoring leaders (184 points - 140 goals, 44 assists). However, a strong nucleus of returning players are back and Clarkson will look to again finish in the upper half of the conference standings. A pair of All-Liberty League Second Team selections will lead this year’s squad in Sydney Roderick and Abby Collins. Roderick had a breakout rookie campaign in 2019 with 33 goals and 49 assists for a team-high 82 points. Her 82 points was the most-ever scored by a Clarkson women’s lacrosse player in a season. She paced the league in assists per game (2.58) and was third in points per game (4.32). Collins was also among the team’s offensive leaders with 27 goals and 17 assists for 44 points. She led the team in ground balls (34) and caused turnovers (24) last season. Other key returnees include midfielder Katie Sergeant (35 goals, 5 assists) and defender Stephanie Scaia (32 ground balls, 18 caused turnovers).
Skidmore wrapped up 2019 with its fifth consecutive trip to the Liberty League tournament, posting an overall record of 12-6 (7-3 Liberty League). The Thoroughbreds did lose their top offensive weapon with the graduation 2019 Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year and All-American Cas Szwajkowski. She paced the Liberty League in points (98 points) and goals (90 goals) as well as free position goals (30). Despite that loss, seven starters are back in Saratoga Springs and the Thoroughbreds are poised to keep their postseason streak alive this season. Defensively, they are in good shape with the return of goalkeeper Caroline Kenlon and defender Amanda Cagnassola. Kenlon put together a 10-6 campaign with a .417 save percentage and 13.14 goals against average. Among league leaders, she was fifth in saves per game (8.29) and totaled 141 saves on the year. Cagnassola was one of the team’s leaders on defense last season with 14 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers. Emily Hirsch (31 goals, 3 assists) and Amanda Orvis (26 goals, 13 assists) headline the returning offense after combining for 73 points last season. Hirsch, an All-Liberty League First Team selection, was the team leader in draw controls in 2019 with 105 (5.83 per game), second in the conference and she caused 15 turnovers.
Vassar returned to the postseason for the first time since 2015 last year and closed out the season at 8-8 with a 5-5 mark against league opponents. Eight starters return to Poughkeepsie from last season’s squad, which includes a trio of players that headline Vassar’s top returnees—midfielder Caeli Porette, attack Kelly Pushie and defender Sydney Nemphos. Porette, the 2019 Liberty League Rookie of the Year will pilot the offense after scoring 40 goals and handing out 12 assists for 52 points last season. She was also tops on the team defensively with a team-high 44 ground balls, 32 caused turnovers and 44 draw controls. Among league leaders, she was second in caused turnovers per game (2.00), fifth in draw controls per game (4.94), sixth in shots per game (6.06) as well as ground balls per game (2.75) and tenth in points per game (2.50). Pushie will also help offensively after recording 29 goals and 29 assists for a team-best 58 points. Nemphos will help Porette direct the defense after tying for the team lead in ground balls (44). She also had 16 caused turnovers.
RPI finished 2019 with an 8-6 overall record (5-5 Liberty League) and the Engineers made their second consecutive trip to the conference tournament. With 13 upperclassmen at the helm, there will be a veteran presence in Troy to kick off the 2020 season. Midfielder Nora Molino will be a significant contributor for the Engineers after earning a spot on the All-Liberty League Second Team last year. In 14 starts last season, she recorded 26 points (22 goals, 4 assists). Molino paced the team with 52 draw controls and 24 caused turnovers. Liz Brady is back for her senior campaign and she also started all 14 games for the Engineers in 2019. She was second on the team in scoring with 45 points. She scored nine goals and dished out a team-best 36 assists. The Engineers also welcome back defensive midfielder Becca DeRosa (22 ground balls, 9 caused turnovers).
RIT (6-10, 4-6 Liberty League) just missed the Liberty League tournament last year and the Tigers will be eyeing a return to the postseason for the second time in three years. With 11 returning starters from a year ago, RIT will be one of the more veteran squads in the conference. A quartet of All-Liberty League Second Team selections highlight this year’s team. Attack Alanna Fallone was tops on the team in scoring last season totaling 62 points. She notched at least a point in all 16 games, tallying 50 goals and 12 assists on the year. Midfielder Colette Rigas will also be a boost to the offense after producing 20 points (16 goals, 4 assists). Defender Maddie Dillabough and goalkeeper Paulina Goodermote will lead the defensive corps. Dillabough (16 starts) paced the team with 40 ground balls and 20 caused turnovers while also ranking third on the team in draw controls with 41. Goodermote is back in net for RIT for her junior campaign after posting a 5-7 record to go with a .529 save percentage and an 11.73 goals against average in 2019.
It could be a rebuilding year for
Union (8-7, 5-5 Libery League) with only five returning starters from last season’s squad. However, the Dutchwomen won three of their last five games to end 2019 and will look to make a return to the postseason for the first time since 2016 this season. All-Liberty League selections Lindsay Gerrato (Second Team) and Bri Stout (Honorable Mention) highlight the 2020 team. Gerrato boasted a team-leading 40 goals and 95 draw controls in 15 starts last season. She netted at least one goal in 14 of 15 games while pacing the team in draws (95). Stout also started all 15 games and headlines the defense. She was tops on the team in caused turnovers (13) and was third on the team with 30 ground balls. Attack Mallory Toolan (6 goals, 10 assists) and goalkeeper Ellie Taney (8-7, 10.71 GAA, .491 SP) will also bolster Union’s lineup.
Rochester will have a mix of experienced and incoming players to kick off the 2020 season as the Yellowjackets will look to improve upon a 5-10 overall record. Midfielder Jamison Seabury, a starter of all 15 games for Rochester last season, is back after earning All-Liberty League Second Team honors as a sophomore. She tallied 42 points on 36 goals and six assists. She also produced 58 draw controls, 22 ground balls and eight caused turnovers. Her total draw controls on the year tied her for Rochester’s single-season record. Seabury will be joined by goalkeeper Carlie Bendavid to mind the backfield. Bendavid made 13 starts in goal and went 5-8 with a .438 save percentage and 11.05 goals against average. Other key players include midfielder Maggie McKenna (20 goals, 4 assists) and defender Paige Smith (25 ground balls, 10 caused turnovers).
A year of experience should translate well on the field for
St. Lawrence after posting a 4-12 overall record with 12 first-year players in 2019. Nine starters from last season’s squad are back and eight upperclassmen will anchor this year’s team. Midfielder Isabel Silvia returns after earning All-Liberty League honorable mention accolades following her rookie campaign. She netted 13 goals and added eight assists for 21 points, ranking her third on the team in scoring. Defensively, she posted a team-high 24 caused turnovers and 47 draw controls. She was also second on the team in ground balls with 35. Attack Kylie Murphy is also back after pacing the team with 49 points (33 goals, 16 assists) last season. Silvia and defender Colby Hoffman will spearhead the defense. Last season, Hoffman scooped up 21 ground balls and caused 14 turnovers.
Bard will also be a seasoned team in 2020 with eight starters from last season. The Raptors welcome back midfielder Melissa Rosenthal for her senior campaign. Rosenthal (All-Liberty League Honorable Mention) started all 15 games for Bard last season was second on the team in scoring with 33 goals and a team-best 15 assists for 48 points. She also won 48 draw controls, scooped up a team-high 39 ground balls and caused 19 turnovers. She will be joined by classmate and attack Caleigh DeCaprio as well as defender Yinyin Doherty-Winraub. DeCaprio, who also made 15 starts, was tops on the team in scoring with 50 points with a team-high 36 goals. She also handed out 14 assists to go with 34 ground balls and eight caused turnovers. Doherty-Winraub had 14 caused turnovers and 17 ground balls.
The 2020 season kicks off on Saturday, February 22 with four league teams seeing non-conference action. Ithaca hosts the lone home game against Nazareth College at 1:00 P.M. while RPI, Skidmore and the University of Rochester are on the road. RPI heads west to Oneonta to take on SUNY Oneonta at 1:00 P.M. Rochester makes the trip south to Pennsylvania to see Thiel College at 1:00 P.M. and Skidmore travels east to Massachusetts to play Babson College with a 2:00 P.M. start.
2020 Liberty League Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll
Place. Team, Points
1. William Smith, 100 (10)
2. Ithaca, 91 (1)
3. Clarkson, 77
4. Skidmore, 73
5. Vassar, 59
6. RPI, 54
7. RIT, 53
8. Union, 39
9. Rochester, 27
10. St. Lawrence, 22
11. Bard, 10
(First-place votes are in parentheses)