by Jim Mullins
Administrative Assistant for Promotion/Public Information
UMass Dartmouth Athletic Department
Corsairs prepare for second season with nine
returners and several newcomers for 1999 season
(Dartmouth, MA) -- UMass Dartmouth women's lacrosse Coach Jerry Jennings has nine veterans returning from last year's first varsity team which posted a 5-7 overall record and earned a berth in the New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance playoffs.
In the Corsairs' second season, Jennings expects to build his team around the core of returning players, plus several new first-year players.
"We hope we can improve on our inaugural season," said Jennings, who is entering his second year with the women's lacrosse team. "The addition of new and talented first-year players will make our squad deeper than we were a year ago. We're setting our sights on getting back to the playoffs again and advancing in the championship playoffs."
The best news for the Corsairs in 1999 is that they will have three of their four top goal- scorers back for another season. Leading the offensive attack will be last year's leading scorer Lisa Haynes (Pembroke, Bermuda), who led UMass Dartmouth with 31 goals plus seven assist for 38
points. Haynes averaged 2.8 goals per game and a team-leading 3.5 goals per game for the Corsairs who averaged 9.6 goals per game last season.
Co-captain Janice Hopper (Dracut, MA), last year's third-ranked scorer, will be joined by Sarah Tuxbury (Sudbury, MA), who finished fourth in overall scoring last season. Hopper finished with 17 goals and three assists for 20 points, while Tuxbury was fourth in scoring, netting 11 goals and five assists for 16 points. UMass Dartmouth will also be looking for additional contributions on offense from Channa Jones (Walpole, MA) (8-0-8) and Karen Rossman (Sandwich, MA) (4-0-4).
Co-captain Stacy Millen (Weston, MA), who had 10 goals for 10 points as a defenseman last year, will lead the Corsairs' defense this season along with Tuxbury. Joining Miller and Tuxbury on defense back from last year will be will be Liz Kelber (Chelmsford, MA) (0-1-1), Aimee Williams (Centerville, MA, Allison Hammond (Gloucester, MA) and Kristen Keene (Sudbury, MA) (1-0-1).
UMass Dartmouth will call on a newcomer to the program this season to start the season in goal. In her first season with the Corsairs, Denise Saucier (Uxbridge, MA) will get the nod from Jennings in goal with back up help from Keene. Last season, Keene made five appearances in goal, coming up with 63 saves in 270 minutes and a 14.44 goals against average.
In addition to his core of returning veterans, Jennings will be looking for some contributions from four first-year players. Those newcomers to the program include Emily Valorz (Milton, MA), Jennifer Burrows (Hubbardston, MA), Elizabeth Murray (Springfield, MA) and Leigh Ann Wiseman (Demarest, NJ).
In the Corsairs' first varsity season last year, they posted a 3-6 record in the NEWLA Southern Division, earning the fourth seed in the playoffs. UMass Dartmouth earned the distinction of being the first team to qualify for the NEWLA playoffs in its first varsity season. The Corsairs were
eliminated in the quarterfinals by top-ranked Eastern Connecticut, who advanced to the championship game before losing to New England College, 15-10.
UMass Dartmouth will open the 1999 season by hosting Brandeis University on Thursday, March 25 at 3:30 p.m. in the stadium on campus. The Corsairs open their NEWLA schedule two days later when they take on the defending champions from New England College on March 27 at 1:00 p.m.
The Corsairs will play eight NEWLA games and non-conference game with an eye toward returning to the NEWLA playoffs which open April 27.
It may only be UMass Dartmouth's second season of varsity competition, but Jennings, who will be assisted by student coach Eric Langone, and the rest of the Corsairs have their sights set high for 1999.
Assistant Director, Sports Information and Daily News
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
285 Old Westport Road
Dartmouth,MA 02747-2300
Phone: News (508) 999-8965 Sports (508) 999-8720
Fax: (508) 999-9200
JMullins@UMassD.edu
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