ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop lacrosse team opens its 2016 campaign this weekend when the Eagles travel to Jacksonville on Frideay followed by a home contest against Furman on Sunday as expectations are high that this squad can return to the NCAA Tournament.
Winthrop is coming off the most successful season in school and conference history, finishing last season with a 17-4 record, a 6-1 mark in the conference, a regular season and tournament title and trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles garnered 10 All-Conference honors, earned the Big South Player, Freshman` and Coach of the Year awards and boasted the nation's leading scorer in Jenna Kasmarik.
"Last season was an amazing year for this program," head coach John Sung said. "Replacing the nation's leading scorer isn't easy but we were prepared for her graduation and this team is well-equipped to make another run."
The preseason favorite to repeat as champions, the Eagles will feature a very experienced lineup with a strong balance of fire power and lock-down defense.
Senior midfielder Shannon Gallagher, the Big South's only three-time First-Team All-Conference selection, is the team's top returning scorer, finishing last year with 54 goals and 20 assists. A two-way player, she had a strong defensive year last year as well, finishing with 52 caused turnovers to lead the team.
The Eagles will feature multiple scoring threats this season to compliment the play of Gallagher. Sophomores Kristen Shiver, Katie Clark and Ally Yeager all return after contributing more than 25 percent of the team's goals last season. Shriver also led the team in assists with 29.
Adding to the squad's offensive successes will be seniors Logan McCarthy, Abby Blevins and Danielle Ellis. McCarthy netted 25 goals last season while Blevins added 36 and Ellis 23 to go along with her 23 assists.
Sung has also added freshmen Alexis Linhardt and Kienan Linhardt to the team's offensive prowess. The first-year twins are expected to contribute and Sung sees them as adding a strong inside presence.
"It's easy for a defense to key on one offensive threat and shut them down," Sung said. "But what does a team do when you have multiple offensive threats? With so many players who can get to goal, it forces defenses to try and defend them all."
Returning in a defensive midfield role is sophomore Katherine Judge who set the Big South single-season record for ground balls with 65. She was also second on the team and in the conference with 84 draw controls.
The defensive back five for the Eagles is the most experienced and cohesive that the squad has put on the field in the program's four-year history. Seniors Maggie Montanye and Hayley Krause along with juniors Paige Jenkins and Grace Sisserson will line up in front of the reigning Freshman of the Year Alaina Girani in goal.
Krause, who is already the Big South's all-time draw control leader, has led the league for two of her three seasons. Coming into this season she is tied for 15th all-time in the NCAA draw control career record book and can easily move into the top 10 and potentially the top five in the list.
Girani made a big impact for the Eagles as a freshman last season, setting multiple Big South records and earning Winthrop's second Freshman of the Year award. She allowed fewer than eight goals per game last year to lead the Big South and rank 16th in the country. Her .470 save percentage also led the conference and was 16th in Division I.
Winthrop surrendered only 8.10 goals per game last season which ranked them at the top of the Big South and 16th in the NCAA. In conference, the Eagles allowed fewer than six goals per contest.
"This team will go as Alaina goes," Sung said. "If Alaina has a good game then things should go well. I have confidence the experience this defense has will be able to carry us a long way this season."
Following the opening weekend, Cincinnati comes to Eagle Field on Friday, February 26. The first of two doubleheaders for the Eagles happens on February 28 as Winthrop travels to Davidson for a noon contest followed by a 6 p.m. contest against St. Francis.
Winthrop then makes a quick Virginia swing with contests against VCU on March 4 followed by William & Mary on March 6. The Eagles return home for their second double dip on March 12, hosting both Army and Bryant. Winthrop rounds out non-conference play at Bucknell on March 16 and Maryland-Baltimore County on March 19.
The Eagles open conference play on March 26 with a road contest against Radford followed by another road game at Liberty on March 30. Presbyterian and Longwood make trips to Rock Hill on April 6 and 9 respectively. A short trip to Gardner-Webb happens on April 13 followed by a home game against Campbell on April 16. Winthrop travels to Coastal Carolina on April 20 before hosting High Point for Senior Day on April 24.
The conference tournament schedule has been adjusted slightly as the quarterfinals will be played on April 30 at the top four seeds. The semifinals and championship will be hosted by the regular season champion on May 5 and 7.
