The last two games of 2013 Women’s Lacrosse team defined their season as a whole. A win against a non-conference team at home was a strength for the Golden Bears this season. But a loss to a competitively-packed PSAC conference team was inevitable, as the season had portrayed all year long.
KU ended their season with two games against Chestnut Hill College and PSAC’s Slippery Rock University. Chestnut Hill College was the final victory of the year for the Golden Bears, as they defeated their non-conference opponent 11-6. Two days later, they suffered a crushing year-ending loss 13-9.
“This year, I think we all expected our record to turn out differently,” said junior Krystine Beodeker. “But our amount of wins and losses can’t show how much we’ve improved since last year and the dedication we all put into this season.”
A studded PSAC conference boasted four ranked teams out of 15 and three in the top-10. KU finished the season 1-10 in the PSAC conference, their lone win was against East Stroudsburg University who finished second from last in the PSAC. KU lost every away game this season, 0-9, and their overall record was 3-14.
In their last win, KU was dominant at home against Chestnut Hill College. The duo of attackers Brielle Dickey and Rosa Buffolino led the assault. Together, they combined for seven goals and four assists. Each attacker had two assists and Dickey scored four goals, just one more than Buffolino. Dickey’s six points was a season-high for her and the team.
Others to score in the game were Beodeker, senior Gina Carmina, sophomore Jillian Spencer and freshman Taylor Sandin. Spencer and Sandin added an assist each to their points total.
Junior JoAnn McLaughlin had a stellar performance, allowing a season-best six goals. In addition, she notched a season-high 19 saves.
Up next was Slippery Rock, which didn’t have the satisfying ending that came at the end of the Chestnut Hill game. Despite the 13-9 loss, KU played fairly well, having four different players score two goals. Carmina, Dickey, Buffolino and sophomore Taylor Stone each scored two goals. Buffolino had the most points adding two assist to her total. Also scoring from the bench was Sandin who scored one of her two shots in the game.
KU has struggled mightily this season, but youth will play to their advantage in the upcoming year. The two standouts, Buffolino and Dickey, return, having had excellent seasons. Buffolino led the team in goals with 26 and was second best on the team in assists with eight. Spencer was the other underclassman standout for the women’s lacrosse team. She was second on the team scoring 21 goals. Buffolino led the team in points with 34 followed by Spencer with 21.
”We are a strong team and continuing to grow,” Beodeker said. “We have a big recruitment class coming in and are really going to have to push ourselves and prove that we will be a threat in the PSAC.”
Of the current roster, 13 of the 23 players are underclassmen. Only six of the 23 players are seniors. Departing seniors include Carmina, Emily Savini, Randy Vite, Katie Feairheller, Kelsey Hoagan and Marisa Kalodner.
Carmina will be the most significant loss to the roster for next season. With 17 goals and two assists, Carmina was the third best on the team in both total points and goals scored.
Last season, KU had one more win than this season and the same amount of losses. However, this season, home field seemed to be their only advantage. In 2012, KU lost all seven of their home games.
Beodeker finished by saying, “We will definitely have some tough competition in and out of the conference, but things can only get better from here. We will prove to other teams and coaches that we are strong and won’t be taken lightly.”
By Jess Woons