2007 Women's Lacrosse: Our Time Is Now

2007 Media Guide

The Orange returns a wealth of experience and talent on both the offensive and defensive fronts in 2007. Syracuse brings back nine starters from a team that showed promise last season. A young team in 2006, the Orange defeated perennial power and national runner-up Dartmouth and reached as high as No. 11 in the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Poll. The 2007 Orange look to continue the success it started last season and return to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in eight seasons.

“If the team focuses on the small things, I think we will be successful,” said head coach Lisa Miller. “We need to keep it small, do things well, do things as a team and big things will happen.”

Attack

One of Syracuse’s strengths in 2007 will be its offensive unit. The Orange returns more than 80 percent of its scoring from last season. The attack unit is highlighted by sophomore Katie Rowan. Rowan, who earned regional All-America and All-BIG EAST accolades, had the most successful season by a freshman in the program’s history. She led the team with 56 points on 46 goals and 10 assists. Her 46 goals rank third in school history and her 56 points are the fourth-highest by a SU player. Both marks are also freshman records.

“She had a tremendous freshman year,” Miller said. “She has great skills, game understanding and field vision. She adapted nicely to the collegiate game. Her confidence grew and continues to grow. She has endless amounts of potential.”

Joining Rowan on the attack front this season are two returning All-BIG EAST performers in senior Jill DePetris and junior Kristin Brady. As midfielders last season, both had very good seasons. DePetris tied the school record with 56 ground balls and enters 2007 tied for 10th in the program’s history with 76 career points and fifth with 29 career assists. Brady led the team with 28 draw controls, finished second with 41 ground balls last season and posted 20 points (14 goals and six assists). She also set the school record with eight draw controls in a single game and matched the SU record with 10 ground balls.

“Jill had a great fall,” Miller said. “She is a fluid, crafty, smart and can attack from different positions. She is playing quicker and is a very good connector. Brady makes good decisions with the ball. She is another weapon on the offense. Both have great talent and we can use them in the middle of the field if we have to.”

Sophomore Megan Mosenson also adds quality talent to the attack position. Mosenson started the first nine games of 2006, posting 17 points on 13 goals and four assists. However, an injury forced her to the sideline for the final seven games of the season.

“She had a wonderful beginning to her freshman year before she was injured,” Miller said. “She showed a lot of potential and we hope to see more from her this year.”

Three freshmen add quality depth to the front line. The class is highlighted by three-time All-American Halley Quillinan, who Miller will look to make an immediate impact with the Orange in 2007.

“Halley was a prolific scorer in high school and has phenomenal field vision,” Miller said. “Last year we were one-dimensional on offense. Now we can attack underneath, from the sides and the top. She and (freshman midfielder) Christina Dove make us far more dangerous on offense.”

Jackie DePetris and Kate Gaffigan add depth to the attacking line. Jackie, the sister of senior Jill, has shown early signs of reaching her sister’s level, while Gaffigan is a natural lefty attacker who can make an impact with the Orange.

Midfield

The midfield is a versatile unit with players who exhibit both strong offensive and defensive skills. The position is highlighted by the return of senior Gaddy Fortune. She became the ninth player in the program’s history to garner All-America accolades last season. Fortune, who was also named to the All-Northeast Region First Team and earned unanimous selection to the All-BIG EAST First Team, recorded the second most goals in school history with 47. Fortune and Rowan teamed with each other to form the most lethal one-two punch in school history, posting 93 goals between them. Much of the same will be expected of Fortune during her senior campaign.

“Gaddy is a phenomenal athlete,” Miller said. “She is fast and quick. Last year, her fundamental skills caught up with her natural athleticism. What is amazing is she still has room for growth. Her ability to see the field and her defense is improved.”

Junior Bridget Looney will compliment Fortune in the midfield position. Looney returned to Syracuse an improved player in the fall and Miller hopes that translates into more scoring and defensive takeaways during the season.

“Bridget spent the summer playing in Australia,” Miller said. “She came back a mature and more polished player. She has grown her game.”

Senior Ashley Pike and sophomore Bridget Hamm are both great athletes on the midfield line. Both have shown a great work ethic during their tenure at SU and will provide the team with talent at the defensive midfield position.

“Ashley is one of our best athletes,” Miller said. “She has great feet and is naturally strong. She generates mismatch problems. This year, she is an improved helping defender and attacker. Bridget Hamm is the fittest player on our team. She is the best defensive midfielder we have. She is very difficult to beat off the cut and runs the field well.”

The midfield position has a great amount of depth in 2007. Senior Melissa Pearsall, junior Shannon Brushe and sophomore Maggie Martin all provide the Orange with necessary talents that will help the team improve.

“Melissa can be a match-up defender,” Miller said. “She has quick feet and quick anticipation. She is working hard to improve her fundamental skill and fitness this year. Shannon is a lock-down transition defender. She makes our middies better in practice. Maggie has potential. She is getting stronger physically. Maggie is picking up on team concepts. She has great hands and is working very hard on team concepts.”

The Orange also brings in a talented freshman class at the midfield position. Dove, who received honorable mention All-American honors, is a highly regarded player that can make an immediate impact with Syracuse in 2007.

“Like Halley, Christina was a prolific scorer in high school,” Miller said. “We are looking forward to four good years with these two.”

Four other freshmen also join the Orange at the midfield position. Eileen Finn, who received honorable mention All-America honors team in high school, and Lindsay Rogers both have a great amount of talent and will have the opportunity to show it in their rookie seasons. Miller plans to start utilizing their skills on the defensive side and move them up as time progresses. In addition, Kathleen Garland and Rebecca Greenslade will add depth at the position.

Defense

Last year, the defense allowed 8.88 goals per game, the second-best mark in the BIG EAST and the 15th-ranked scoring defense in the NCAA. The Orange returns all three starters from last year’s team, including two All-BIG EAST performers.

“The defensive unit as a whole should be improved this year,” Miller said.

Junior Stephanie Bissett was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team and regional All-America squad following the 2006 season. Bissett has displayed a natural leadership ability at Syracuse and demonstrates it through her play on the field.

“Stephanie is a great player,” Miller said. “She is the quarterback of our defensive unit. She is a coach on the field.”

Senior Chelsea Strodel also had a successful year in 2006, earning second-team All-BIG EAST accolades. Strodel has improved during the past year and has become more of a leader for the defensive unit in the process.

“Chelsea has improved her foot work and has taken on a leadership role,” Miller said. “With improved foot work, Chelsea is an excellent takeaway defender.”

Senior Shari Appollon is the third returning starter in Syracuse’s defensive unit. Appollon is great athlete and her abilities are beneficial to SU’s success.

“Shari is a good mark-up defender,” Miller said. “She has very quick feet and a competitive mentality.”

Junior Christina Gibson provides quality depth. Gibson is a solid player who helps improve the overall quality of the team.

“Christina is a smart, helping defender,” Miller said. “She improves everybody’s game understanding. She is a critical practice player. She is working hard at being consistent with the ball and could gain quality playing time.”

Breanna Stiff joins the Orange in 2007 to add to SU’s depth in the defensive unit.

“Bre is going to be a good defender,” Miller said. “When she plays at speed, she will be an outstanding defender.”

Goalkeeper

After the graduation of three-year starter Jen Kasel in the net, the Orange turns its attention toward Amber Pardee-Hill. Although she played in only five minutes during her rookie season, Miller sees bright spots for the sophomore and thinks she can have a successful year in 2007.

“Amber has improved,” Miller said. “She communicates with her defensive unit. She is very competitive and finds a way to make a save. She has learned to cut the angle and is very committed to the success of the team.”

Schedule

The Orange face another tough schedule in 2007, squaring off against six teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2006, including three that advanced to the semifinals.

“We play a tough schedule,” Miller said. “It is challenging and demanding. Doing well puts us in good position with the NCAA committee.”

Syracuse will be home to the inaugural BIG EAST Championship in 2007. The top four teams in the six-team conference will qualify for the tournament at the Carrier Dome and will square off on April 27 and 29 to determine the conference champion.

Syracuse University Athletics

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