2017 Preseason Captains Interview (Video)
2017 Schedule
2016 Stats
Centennial Conference Guide
HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College women's lacrosse team enters the 2017 season hoping to make a third consecutive trip to the Centennial Conference tournament, a feat that would be a first for the program.
For the fifth time in seven years, Haverford won at least 10 games in 2016 and made the Centennial Conference Tournament during each of the past two seasons and three of the last four seasons under head coach Lauren Wray, who moved her overall record to 48-38 at the helm of the women's lacrosse program.
Last season, Haverford was named the IWLCA Division III Merit Squad, the highest academic honor in Division III women's lacrosse. In earning the prestigious designation, the Fords finished the 2015-16 academic year with the highest GPA among 130 Division III programs that posted at least a 3.0 GPA. In addition, the Fords placed a program-record 13 players on the 2016 Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll to lead all conference schools.
The Fords will return five of its seven players who scored at least 10 goals in 2016. All-Centennial First Team performer Sarina Manetta (23 goals, 11 assists in 2016) highlights the returners. Molly Lausten returns from a 31-goal campaign and Madison Jones, a second-team All-Centennial pick, will anchor the back line.
Attack: Allie Gibbons (18 goals) returns to anchor the attack in her sophomore season as Rina Rosnow (18 goals), Kate Sollee and seniors Averi Gaines and Shannon Rafsol (4 goals) also return to the forward line. Julia Manetta (Commack, N.Y.) is a newcomer to the attack.
Midfielders: The midfielders are the largest group on the roster, as Manetta, Lausten, Courtney Carter (four goals), Grayton Downing, Stephanie Kisciras, Maura Grant (11 goals), Lucy Koch and Sarah Svetec (four goals) all return. Newcomers to the midfield include Maeve Gaffney (Barrington, R.I.), Olivia DiRienz (Clinton, N.J.), Eliza Brosgol (Scarsdale, N.Y.) and Claire Armstrong (Middlebury, Vt.).
Defense: Jones (20 caused turnovers, 24 ground balls) anchors a defensive unit that returns Claire Cote (25 caused turnovers), Noelle Smith (21 caused turnovers), Alyssa Sherman (18 ground balls, 13 caused turnovers), Ali Weiner and Kirsten Mullin. Freshmen Emily Krupnick (Mountain Lakes, N.J.) and Anna Meyers (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) will also be slotted in the backfield in their first seasons.
Goalkeepers: Rachel Romens (5.72 GAA, 10 saves in 94 minutes of action) will lead a young goalkeeping corps that includes freshmen Paige Walton (Southlake, Texas) and Tatiana Lathion (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) following the graduation of stalwart goalkeeper Megan Chenworth.
Haverford was picked to finish fifth in the Centennial Conference in the annual voting of the conference's head coaches. Haverford received 47 overall votes. No. 4 Franklin & Marshall College took the top spot in the poll with 79 points and seven first place votes while No. 6 Gettysburg took 75 overall points and the remaining three first place tallies. Washington College was picked third with 59 overall points while Dickinson edged the Fords for the fourth place vote with 57 points. Slotted behind Haverford were Muhlenberg (46 points), Ursinus (35), McDaniel (22), Swarthmore (21) and Bryn Mawr (9).
A tough 2017 schedule includes games against No. 10 York in the season opener, defending national semi-finalists No. 4 Franklin & Marshall and No. 6 Gettysburg as well as intriguing rarely seen opponents Christopher Newport and Randolph-Macon making visits to Swan Field in the early goings.