Jan. 29, 2009
RICHMOND, Va. -
The Colonial Athletic Association announced its 2009 Preseason All-Conference Team today, as selected by a vote of the conference's eight head coaches. A pair of Patriot seniors, attacker Brittany Berger and defender Maggie Bridges, were named to the team.
Berger is the Patriots' top returning scorer as she netted 39 goals to earn First-Team All-CAA honors last season. Bridges, the 2008 CAA Defensive Player of the Year, anchored a Mason defense that ranked fifth in the nation in caused turnovers per game and sixth in ground balls per game. She finished last season with 22 caused turnovers and 41 ground balls.
Towson senior midfielder Hilary Fratzke was selected the 2009 Colonial Athletic Association Preseason Player of the Year. Fratzke returns after a junior season in which she earned First-Team All-America honors and was chosen as the CAA Player of the Year. Fratzke was among the nation's scoring leaders with 86 points after tallying 62 goals and 24 assists.
Joining Berger, Bridges and Fratzke on the preseason all-conference team is senior defender Julie Ondrako from Towson; senior goalkeeper Jessica Cerveny and junior midfielder Emily Schaknowski from Delaware; junior attacker Corrine Gandolfi, sophomore attacker Stephanie Rice, senior defender Alysse Ruszkowski and senior midfielder Lauren Whitcomb of Hofstra; sophomore midfielder Grace Golden, sophomore goalkeeper Emily Geary and sophomore attacker Ashley Holofcener of William and Mary; and junior midfielder Kim Griffin of James Madison.
In other news, Towson was the unanimous choice to claim the 2009 Colonial Athletic Association women's lacrosse title based on the votes of the league's eight head coaches. Towson, the defending conference champion, received all seven first-place votes as coaches weren't allow to vote for their own team. William & Mary, which lost to Towson in last year's CAA title game, received one first-place vote and finished second in the poll with 38 points. James Madison tallied 32 points and was picked third, while Delaware and Hofstra followed closely with 31 and 30 points, respectively. George Mason was chosen sixth, followed by Drexel and Old Dominion.
Despite falling in the semifinals of the CAA Championship Tournament to Towson, the Patriots enjoyed the finest season in the history of the program in 2008. Mason set a school record with 12 wins and tied the school record for conference wins with five. George Mason reached the highest ranking in school history during the course of the season when they reached No. 9 in both polls.
2009 CAA Preseason All-Conference Team
Player, School Pos. Cl. Hometown
Brittany Berger, George Mason A Sr. White Hall, Md.
Corrine Gandolfi, Hofstra A Jr. Smithtown, N.Y.
Ashley Holofcener, W&M A So. Reisterstown, Md.
Stephanie Rice, Hofstra A So. Skaneateles, N.Y.
Hilary Fratzke, Towson M Sr. Centerville, Md.
Grace Golden, W&M M So. Manhasset, N.Y.
Kim Griffin, James Madison M Jr. Jarrettsville, Md.
Emily Schaknowski, Delaware M Jr. Wading River, N.Y.
Lauren Whitcomb, Hofstra M Sr. East Rochester, N.Y.
Maggie Bridges, George Mason D Sr. Fairfax, Va.
Julie Ondrako, Towson D Sr. Manlius, N.Y.
Alysse Ruszkowski, Hofstra D Sr. Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
Jessica Cerveny, Delaware GK Sr. Islip, N.Y.
Emily Geary, W&M GK So. Wayne, Pa.
2009 CAA Preseason Player of the Year:
Hilary Fratzke, Towson
