2018 Centennial Conference Preseason Guide
HAVERFORD, Pa. – Haverford women's lacrosse opens the 2018 season at the dawn of a new era under first year head coach Katie Zichelli, looking to return to the Centennial Conference tournament for the third time in four years after falling just short a season ago. Last season, Haverford finished at or above .500 for the fifth consecutive season and returns four of its five leading goal scorers from the 2017 campaign.
IWLCA All-Region performer Allie Gibbons is Haverford's top returning goal scorer, with 53 goals a season ago. That mark was good for third in the Centennial Conference and represented the 11th best offensive output in Haverford single-season history. Maeve Gaffney (15 goals), Molly Lausten (15 goals), Julia Manneta (13 goals) and Kate Sollee (12 goals).
First year players Belle McMahon, Hailey Morris and Julia Pascarella join the attack that includes Gibbons, Manetta, Rina Rosnow and Sollee.
The midfield corps includes Lausten, Gaffney, Olivia DiRienz (22 draw controls, 8 ground balls), Eliza Brosgol (16 draw controls, eight ground balls), Claire Armstrong (two draw controls, four ground balls), Sarah Svetec (six goals, six ground balls) and newcomer Courtney Cubbin.
All-Centennial performer Madison Jones anchors the defense. Jones was one of the top defenders in the conference a season ago, earning her second straight All-Conference designation. Jones caused 14 turnovers in 2017, scooping 17 ground balls.
Alyssa Sherman (11 ground balls, four caused turnovers), Noelle Smith (six ground balls, three draw controls), (Emily Krupnick (7 ground balls, four caused turnovers), Anna Meyers (12 ground balls, 11 draw controls) and Kirsten Mullin (one ground ball, one caused turnover) also return to the defense while the group gains first year Isabel Canning.
The goalkeeping contingent includes senior Rachel Romens (11.88 GAA, 63 saves) as well as sophomores Tatiana Lathion (12.85 GAA, 49 saves) and Paige Walton (10.66 GAA, six saves in six games). First year Amelia Slade also joins the team for 2018.
Zichelli's squad will immediately be thrust into one of the most challenging slates in the Centennial Conference, as Fords will face off with both of the national finalists in the upcoming season. The Fords open up the season on Saturday at Arcadia. The opening draw is slated for squad heads to national runner-up TCNJ on March 1 and national champion Gettysburg on April 14. In total, the schedule features games against four NCAA tournament teams from a season ago, as the Fords host NCAA second round participant Cabrini and third round entrant Franklin & Marshall.
Haverford was picked to finish sixth in the Centennial Conference's annual preseason poll. Haverford received 44 total voting points. Defending National Champions Gettysburg received eight on the nine first place votes while defending Centennial Conference champion and NCAA Regional Semifinalist Franklin & Marshall received the other first place tally.
Muhlenberg was slated third with 62 voting points. Dickinson (55 votes) and Washington College (48 votes) are the other two squads the conference's head coaches believe are headed to the Centennial Conference tournament.