Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
Phone (716) 673-3100 / Fax (716) 673-3136

CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director

DATE: Wed., March 16, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Women's Lacrosse

Devils will look toward vets to help newcomers

FREDONIA, N.Y.. – Experience in the attack zone will be a leading factor in the success of the 2005 Blue Devil season.

Seniors Katelyn Ferry (Lancaster/Lancaster) and Erynn Anderson (Dewitt/C.W. Baker) provide third-year head coach Chris Case with a formidible duo on offense. They combined for 56 goals and 24 assists last season. Their combined total of 80 points represented 44 percent of the entire team’s 2004 offensive output.

Case is looking for both women to increase their output in 2005, as well as serve as leaders to a talented group of freshmen. The newcomers consist of Kaleena Goldsworthy (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker), Jessica DeBolt (Livonia/Livonia), Carrie Halstead (Penfield/Webster Schroeder), and Leslie Von Pless (Liverpool/Liverpool).

Together with the seniors, the Blue Devils should have a variety of offensive threats and an overall potent group of scorers.

Aimee Baxter -- Fredonia State’s fifth-leading all-time scorer -- was the key graduation loss among the attackers.

In the midfield, the Blue Devils will find themselves with a young but talented group. With one returner, sophomore Brittney Bennett (Livonia/Livonia), and the rest being freshmen, the midfielders as a whole will need to adapt quickly to the collegiate game.

“Even though Erin Schurr (Hamburg/Hamburg) has made the move to defense,” assistant coach Vicky Perkins said, “we could still have the potential to be one of the strongest midfield groups for the Blue Devils. We will be expecting Molly Meagher (Livonia/Livonia), Nicole Van Etten (Endicott/Union-Endicott), and Rebecca Erlichman (Pittsford/Pittsford Mendon) to step up and have an outstanding season this year.”

The move by junior Schurr (who had 15 goals in 2004) to defender was necessitated in part by the graduation of several key players from the 2004 team. Second Team All-SUNYAC Louise Wolfe, Kristin Decker, and Erin Bauer were all solid contributors for the Blue Devils, who will be difficult to replace.

Schurr’s veteran status will be a boon to a group which includes two other returning players, junior Jade Gianforte (Chittenango/Chittenango) and junior Courtney Wheeler (Farmington/Victor). They will be counted on to help the freshmen adapt to the college game. Laura Green (West Seneca/West Seneca West), Janelle Giehl (Rochester/Irondequoit), and Alicia Nuse (West Seneca/West Seneca West) were all outstanding defenders at their respective high schools. The unit will need to jell early so the offense and goalkeeping isn’t overburdened.

Graduation claimed veteran goalkeeper Sarah Kretz, while Kelly McLeod -- a late addition to the 2004 roster -- did not return to the squad. Perkins, a former college goaltender, was employed much of last season with the task of finding keepers for the 2005 team.

“We looked long and hard to find someone who would be up to the challenge of leading the team in the backfield,” Perkins said. “Not only did we find one person who was willing and able to do it, we found two freshmen.

“Sarah Wright (Rochester/Irondequoit) and Amanda Brandt (Rochester/Spencerport), two outstanding goalies from Rochester, are looking to add a little intensity to the defensive end. Both with fast feet, quick reactions, and positive attitudes, we are looking for them to be a dynamic duo in the net for us this year.”

The Blue Devils open their season with three games in Florida -- March 21 vs. Wooster, March 23 vs. Franklin Pierce, and March 24 vs. Allegheny. The home opener is March 29 vs. Alfred, while the SUNYAC portion of the season begins April 4 with a home game vs. Geneseo.

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