Feb. 20, 2009
FAIRFAX, Va. - With a new coaching staff in place, the George Mason women's lacrosse program will look to build on the best season in the history of the program. Last year's team set school records for wins, consecutive wins and goals scored, while tying the school record for conference wins on its way to a final ranking of 16th in the IWLCA Poll.
After guiding the Patriots to a 12-5 overall record and 5-2 mark in the CAA, head coach Amy Bokker took over the head position of the Stanford University women's lacrosse program. Bokker, the 2008 IWLCA South Region Coach of the Year, leaves as the winningest coach in program history with 84 wins during her 11-year tenure.
Following the departure of Bokker, the Patriots pegged alum Lauren Rywak as the ideal candidate to lead the team, hiring her to become the third head coach in the history of the program after she earned Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Coach of the Year honors last season for guiding Iona College to its first-ever berth in the MAAC Championship Tournament. In addition to her successful five-year stint at Iona, Rywak has ties to Fairfax, having played at Mason from 1998-01.
Rywak was the team's co-captain during her senior year in 2001, making 15 starts and finishing the season with 27 ground balls, 12 caused turnovers and seven draw controls. After helping George Mason achieve its first winning season in the history of the program during her freshman year in 1998, the Patriots were nationally ranked during each of Rywak's final three seasons on the team, finishing 14th in 1999, 19th in 2000 and 18th in 2001.
Joining Rywak on the staff are a pair of assistant coaches with playing experience at the University of Maryland. Kelly Kasper was a four-year starter at midfield for the University of Maryland, capping off her career in 2008 as a finalist for both the Tewaaraton and Honda Awards. A team captain during her senior season, Kasper was a three-time All-American as well as a three-time All-ACC selection for the Terrapins. In addition to her playing experience, Kasper gained invaluable coaching experience as an intern under Maryland head coach Cathy Reese. Under Reese's tutelage, Kasper worked with the Maryland coaching staff to implement team goals and strategies.
Rounding out the staff is Megan Cassara, whose primary duties will be working with the goalkeepers and the defensive unit. Cassara played four years as a defender at Maryland, starting 18 games during her senior season in 2008. During her senior season, Cassara set career highs in caused turnovers, draw controls and ground balls, helping the Terrapins advance to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championships. While attending Maryland, Cassara served as a volunteer coach for the Herndon High School girl's lacrosse team for four years. She also served as a Camp Counselor for Elevate Lacrosse in 2008.
Despite standouts Megan Bartlett, Laura King, Jenny Tran and Alex Velesz graduating from Mason, the new coaching staff will have a talented group of returners to work with in 2009. Returning to the team are 2008 CAA Defensive Player of the Year Maggie Bridges, IWLCA All-South Region performer Brittany Berger, and a trio of CAA All-Rookie selections in Chelsea Gamble, Caitlin Hoffen and Madalyn Jamison.
"There were a lot of freshmen that stepped up big for the team last year that are coming back as a sophomore class," Rywak said. "We are confident that the bulk of the contributors from last season's team are coming back. They know what it takes to get to the CAA Tournament and that is one of their goals; to get there and to win it all this year."
The Patriots' potent attack scored a school-record 208 goals last season and is primed to give opposing defenses trouble in 2009. While the attack lost its leading scorer in King (42 goals, 15 assists, 57 points), the team's second-leading scorer from last season, Brittany Berger, who was recently named to the CAA Preseason All-Conference Team, is poised to lead the Patriots' offense as a senior in 2009. Brittany Berger set career highs in goals (39) and points (50) last year on her way to All-CAA recognition. Returning for her sophomore season is Jamison, who scored 14 goals and added 13 assists for a total of 27 points as a freshman. Junior Megan Udovich was a key reserve last season for the Patriots, netting 18 goals while seeing action in all 17 contests. Sophomore Caroline Hoyt saw action in 13 games last year, scoring seven goals with a .467 shooting percentage.
Also expected to contribute on the attack are freshman Cailey Aburn, from The John Carroll School in Jarrettsville, Md.; Samantha Massa, from Somerville High School in Neshanic Station, N.J.; and Mary Schwartz, from Western Albemarle High School in Charlottesville, Va.
The midfield will be led by a trio of returners including senior Alana Chan, Gamble and sophomore Hayley Berger. Chan, Gamble and Hayley Berger all started every single game for the Patriots last season.
Chan, a member of the Canadian National Team, is an excellent all-around player who finished last season with 20 goals, six assists, 13 caused turnovers, 24 ground balls and 20 draw controls. Gamble finished her freshman year with 22 goals, eight assists and 30 points while shooting at a .500 clip from the field. She also had 21 ground balls and 15 draw controls.
"Chelsea is an outstanding performer in the midfield," Rywak said. "She's one of our team captains this year, and we expect her to display that leadership on both ends of the field on attack and defense."
While she only scored once last season, Hayley Berger provided excellent defense for the Patriots. She finished the season with nine caused turnovers, 23 ground balls and seven draw controls.
Rounding out the midfield are freshmen Emily Ellisen, Katie Gerhard and Julianne Tela. Ellisen arrives at George Mason from Great Valley High School in Paoli, Pa., where she scored 108 goals and added 22 assists during her senior season to earn US Lacrosse First-Team All-America honors.
"Emily is going to see a lot of time on the field this season," Rywak said. "She has great height and impressive stick skills."
Another freshman Rywak expects to see on the field is Julianne Tela, who joins the team from Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Va. A team captain at Bishop Ireton, Tela is the school's all-time leading scorer with 251 points. She was a US Lacrosse All-America selection in 2008.
"Julianne definitely stepped up her play during the fall schedule," Rywak said. "She has the potential to make an immediate impact during the spring season.
The final freshman midfielder is Katie Gerhard, who was a four-year starter and letterwinner for the Arapahoe High School lacrosse team in Centennial, Colo. Gerhard was a Three-time First-Team All-Continental League selection for the Warriors.
Four returners and two newcomers comprise the Patriot defensive unit, which ranked fifth in the nation in caused turnovers per game and sixth in ground balls per game last season. The unquestioned leader of the unit is Bridges, who returns for her senior season after earning CAA Defensive Player of the Year honors last season. A 2009 CAA Preseason All-Conference selection, she wrapped up last season with 22 caused turnovers, 41 ground balls and 17 draw controls while consistently defending the opponent's top offensive threat.
"Winning the Defensive Player of the Year award highlights the contributions Maggie makes every game on the defensive side of the field," Rywak said. "Being named a captain this year will cement her status as the anchor of our defense."
Hoffen will also be a key cog on defense in her second season on the team in 2009. As a freshman, she led the team in caused turnovers and ground balls with 29 and 46, respectively.
The three remaining returners on defense are sophomore Lauren Gannon, junior Cristina Maurizi and redshirt freshman Maureen Onda. Gannon saw time in eight games as a freshman, while Maurizi, one of three captains on this year's team, played in 12 games, with one start, in 2008. Onda sat out last season with an injury, earning a medical redshirt.
A pair of freshmen will join the Patriots on the defensive side of the field next season. Kara Bowman comes to Fairfax from St. Mary's High School in Arnold, Md., while Joy Oberlin joins the team from Dulaney High School in Phoenix, Md. Bowman was a two-sport star at St. Mary's, excelling in both lacrosse and soccer. Oberlin was a member of the Lions' 2006 State Championship team.
The lone goalkeeper on the team is junior Sara Longobucco, who has started every game in goal for the Patriots the past two seasons. Last season, Longobucco recorded 124 saves and a 9.44 goals against average in nearly 1,000 minutes in the net.
Mason, which received votes in the initial IWLCA Poll of the season, begins its 2009 season on Saturday, Feb. 21 at Johns Hopkins. The Patriots also play nonconference games against Virginia Tech, George Washington, St. Joseph's, Boston University, Georgetown, Iona, American and Virginia in addition to a seven-game conference slate featuring Delaware, Drexel, Hofstra, James Madison, Old Dominion, Towson and William and Mary.
After wrapping up the regular season with an April 23 matchup against James Madison at George Mason Stadium, the Patriots have their sights set on qualifying for the CAA Championship Tournament for the second consecutive season. The semifinals of this year's tournament will be held on Thursday, April 30 at the home of the top seed. The championship game will take place on Saturday, May 2 with the conference champion earning the CAA's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
