PHILADELPHIA – Under the direction of first year head coach Alex Kahoe, the Hawks will embark on a new era of Saint Joseph's women's lacrosse this season. SJU returns 18 letterwinners, including six starters, and welcomes nine newcomers for the 2015 season.
“We are looking forward to getting on the field this season,” said Kahoe. “We are excited for the depth, athleticism, and versatility in every position. We have a wide range of balanced experience mixed with new faces, and we look forward to seeing it all come together and seeing the hard work in the offseason translate to our play on the field.”
OFFENSE
The Hawks return SJU's top three goal scorers from last season in senior midfielder Julia Falcone, junior midfielder Kelly Phelan, and sophomore attack Nora McCallion, a trio that combined for 49 percent of SJU's total goals (72-of-148) and 42 percent of SJU's total points (91-of-217) in 2014.
The veteran duo of Falcone and Phelan will lead SJU's midfield unit this season. Falcone and Phelan have found success on the field and, with their speed, athleticism, and experience, will be expected to lead the younger group and to help the newcomers adjust to the new systems. Both exhibit a drive, passion, and heart that will lead the Hawks throughout the 2015 season.
Entering her fourth year on Hawk Hill, Falcone owns a team-best 63 career goals in 43 appearances. She scored a team-best 28 goals on 48 shots and was SJU's only offensive player to start all 16 games last year.
Breaking into a starting role at the start of the 2014 season, Phelan registered a team-best 33 points on 25 goals and eight assists en route to ranking in SJU's top three of every offensive category. Phelan was the Hawks' top FPS performer, netting eight goals on 13 attempts.
A 2014 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie selection, McCallion led all SJU freshmen in every offensive category last season and returns for her second season as an experienced leader on the attacking unit this year. McCallion broke into a starting role on the attack during the final nine games of the 2014 season en route to totaling 30 points on 19 goals and 11 assists.
A trio of juniors will round out the returning attacking unit, led by tri-captain Bianca Angstadt. Angstadt has been consistent in her first two years on Hawk Hill, averaging 9.5 goals per season. Classmates Emily Bowers (11G, 20A) and Bonnie McShane (4G, 7A) can also be expected to contribute on the offensive end of the field.
The depth of SJU's midfield unit is substantial as the Hawks bring back a core group of six sophomore midfielders who all earned minutes on the field last season.
Sarah Smith and Taylor Dachowski comprise a pair of offensive performers that has the ability to impact SJU's midfield unit this spring. Smith (3G, 3A) plays with an intensity and passion that will help drive and inspire the Crimson and Gray this season while Dachowski's ability to provide bursts of quickness will be a welcomed spark to propel the offensive unit.
Katelyn Ambrose and Becky Daub will be contributing factors from the defensive midfielder standpoint. Ambrose (5GB) will be involved in the draw while Daub's physicality, toughness, and solid game sense will provide the sophomore the opportunity to be in the mix for ground balls.
Megan Tracy and Maura Monti will round out SJU's returning midfielders in 2015.
Saint Joseph's coaching staff sees extreme potential in its seven offensive additions in freshman attacks Rena Carabases (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape), Kristen Kelbon (Mount Laurel, N.J./Bishop Eustace Prep), and Morgan Lamey (Hockessin, Del./Charter School of Wilmington) and midfielders Dana Garbinski (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua Academy), Britt Hazard (Elkins Park, Pa./Cheltenham), Taylor Jacobs (Haddonfield, N.J./Haddonfield Memorial), and Kate Payne (Hockessin, Del./Archmere Academy).
Of the incoming attacks, Carabases can certainly be expected to make an impact in her first year. The 2014 South Jersey Coaches Association Attack of the Year, Carabases is quick around the goal, has a solid shot, and can make plays happen. The rookie did a remarkable job of working on her role in the attack and fitting into the attacking system during the offseason and will certainly be called upon to contribute this season.
Of the incoming midfielders, Garbinski could be an extreme factor on SJU's scoring unit. The two-time Academic All-American is a speedy player with a solid understanding of the game who, even as a freshman, understands defensive and offensive concepts fully. She has proven to be an all-around, solid player throughout the offseason and will be expected to utilize her versatility to be a strong playmaker for the Hawks this spring.
Kelbon's speed adds another dimension to SJU's attack while Lamey could also make an impact for SJU. Payne has a strong sense of game awareness and has already proven herself to be a young leader among her teammates while Hazard and Jacobs will round out SJU's new midfielders.
DEFENSE
Although the graduation of 2014 Atlantic 10 All-Second Team selections Britt Hanrahan and Kaitlyn McSwiggan left holes in SJU's defensive unit, Saint Joseph's back line has worked its way to being a strength of the squad, led by a core trio of junior tri-captain Courtney Emanuele, junior Mallory Grey, and sophomore Maggie Egan.
Emanuele (3G, 5A) saw minutes in every game last season to earn 10 ground balls and 15 caused turnovers in 16 appearances, and the tough, hard-working junior will lead the defensive unit this season.
As a rookie last year, Egan was SJU's top defensive freshman off the bench and earned 11 ground balls and seven caused turnovers in 15 appearances. Although limited in minutes last season, Grey can also be expected to make an impact with her speed, as the junior owns SJU's fastest 40-yard sprint record (4.87) of all time.
The returning defensive unit will be rounded out by junior Caroline Hagan, who is SJU's only returning member of last season's starting back line. Hagan was good for 26 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers in 16 starts last season.
Freshmen Aly Gormley (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) and Catie Vivian (Slingerlands, N.Y./Academy of the Holy Names) will bring new talent and excitement to the defensive end of the field.
GOALKEEPERS
Senior tri-captain Nora McGeever and junior Genevieve Giblin will compete for the starting spot between the pipes come opening day. McGeever exhibits solid leadership and presence in net while Giblin owns two seasons and 29 starts worth of experience.
In five career appearances, McGeever owns a 9.77 goals-against average and .263 save percentage in 86:24. Giblin started all 16 games in net last season to post a 10.39 goals-against average and .429 save percentage in 947:31 en route to a 5-11 overall record.
SEASON OPENER
The Hawks open the 2015 season at home against Temple on Saturday, February 14.
“Our team has been working hard in the offseason to prepare for the spring, and we are looking forward to opening the 2015 season against Temple on February 14,” added Kahoe.
For SJU's complete schedule release, please click here.
