Gamble Named Second-Team VaSID All-State

Women's Lacrosse Set to Open 2011 Season

Women's Lacrosse Season Preview

George Mason Athletics Women's Lacrosse 2/9/2011 4:14:00 PM

Gone from the 2010 squad may be three starters, but what returns for 2011 is the core of George Mason's women's lacrosse lineup in 21 letterwinners and nine starters, including six who started all 17 contests last season. Seven newcomers were added to the 2011 roster which will look to send the Patriots back to the Colonial Athletic Association conference tournament in May for the first time since 2008.

Among the starters returning are a group of seven seniors which accounted for 45 percent of Mason's scoring last season. The senior class includes two captains in Chelsea Gamble and Hayley Berger , who both started all 17 contests last season. Madalyn Jamison , the team's leading scorer last season, returns this season for her final campaign. Jamison is joined by Caitlin Hoffen , the 2009 leader in ground balls, Lauren Gannon and Amy Yatsuk .

"We have a big group of seniors and they certainly set the stage for team expectations this year," said head coach Lauren Rywak . "They each came back from summer vacation with a new found energy and intensity for the game. They are focused on being successful this year and have made it evident on and off the field leading the team."

Joining the senior class are seven juniors, seven sophomores, and seven newcomers the coaching staff added to fill the vacancies left from the 2010 class. In addition, Rywak welcomed new assistant coaches Jaclyn O'Leary and Morgan Kelly to the roster.

The Patriots spent the off-season working on fundamentals and laying the groundwork for a new direction in their game plan. "Intensity, that was our off-season focus," Rywak stated. "It has been our main goal throughout the fall season and we will continue that theme throughout the spring season. We ask the players to come to practice, conditioning and lifting with the same intensity needed to be a successful Division I team. They have stepped up to the challenge and continue to push themselves to be stronger than they were the day before. I continue to be impressed with this team."

Attack
"We have completely revamped our attacking unit this fall season," noted Rywak. "Assistant Coach Jaclyn O'Leary has done a phenomenal job with the attack and we have been impressed with the players adapting to the new style of play. It was extremely successful for us during our fall season."

Leading the attack last season, Jamison set the single season record with 38 assists to claim the top spot as the all-time career assists leader with 81 in 2010. Also having accumulated a team-leading 64 points to place fourth in single-season points, Jamison ranks fifth all-time with 150 career points.

Joining Jamison in the attack, Mary Schwartz appeared in 16 games last season, starting 12, and recorded six goals and five assists. The junior also picked up seven groundballs and 11 draw controls.

Making the shift from midfield to attack is junior Emily Ellisen who completes the trio of team captains for 2011. Ellisen started all 17 contests, recording 31 goals, 28 ground balls and 21 draw controls.

Adding depth to the attack will be Samantha Massa , Julianne Tela and newcomers Katie Mascolo and Samantha Scruggs .

Defense
"We also introduced a new style of defense for this year," Rywak commented. "The defensive end consists of veteran players and they have adapted well to the new defensive language as well as a couple new defensive sets that we will implement this spring season."

Veterans returning on the defensive end include seniors Hayley Berger , Lauren Gannon and Caitlin Hoffen , juniors Kiersten Jauschnegg and Joy Oberlin , and sophomores Ashley Argyros , Shelby Cohen and Danielle Woll .

Highlighting the group is the team's returning leader in draw controls and the team's most affluent ground ball contributors. Berger led the Patriots in draw controls with 29, which matched her total last season tying for tenth place on the single season record. With 40 ground balls in 17 starts, Jauschnegg ranked second on the team behind Hoffen with 46.

Midfield
Mason boasts six returning midfielders to the roster, including senior captain Chelsea Gamble who ranked second on the team last season in assists with 15.

A pair of sophomores saw solid playing time in the midfield position in 2010. Allie Hilderbrandt appeared in all 17 games, getting the start in 12, while Caitlin Formato started six games, appearing in 16. The sophomore pair combined for nine goals and two assists on the season.

"We have the speed and endurance in the midfield and with the addition of a couple new players in the position, we have depth which is something we were lacking in the past," said Rywak.

Also appearing on the midfield line is Kara Bowman , Amy Yatsuk , Kaylee Mikolon and a quartet of newcomers in Allison Pinard , Anna Kopecka , Tori Mitros and Ashley Wheeler .

Goalkeepers
The Patriots faced the biggest concern in the goalie position after losing a four-year veteran in Sara Longobucco who finished her career at Mason ranking in the top five in career saves, lowest goals allowed average, minutes and wins.

"After losing a four-year starter in cage last year we needed to make the adjustment on the defensive end," noted Rywak. "Brittany Pastrana has stepped into the role and has certainly gained the confidence needed by working alongside our new goalie coach, Morgan Kelly ."

Pastrana saw action in six games last season for a total of 118 minutes of play. The sophomore recorded 18 saves in 65 shots faced. To add depth in the position, the coaching staff added newcomer Katie Teague to the roster.

Schedule
Two new opponents highlight the 2011 schedule from the 2010 lineup, but Mason will face a tougher course on the road starting off the season with eight straight road contests. Marking the longest season-opening road stanza in the program's history, the stretch ends with Mason's first-ever meeting with Columbia on March 17. Mason opens at home with its Power in Pink (Under Armour Breast Cancer Awareness) game on March 23 against American.

"We are looking forward to the challenge of our schedule," said Rywak. "It will be an added challenge starting the season with eight straight road games, but this team is solid and we are focused on the goals we set for ourselves this fall and will continue to set new goals as the spring season unfolds. I know we will surprise some teams this year and I am looking forward to seeing all the players' hard work pay off."

The Patriots have two three-game homestands for a total of six matches at home this season. Mason will play host to four CAA opponents in James Madison (April 2), William and Mary (April 8), Delaware (April 15) and Towson (April 17).

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