The Shippensburg University women’s lacrosse team is confident that this is its year to make it to playoffs and end its seven-year drought of not making the post season.
The team has had a different type of pre-season this year, as it has not been able to practice on the turf field because of the amount of snow SU has gotten over the past few weeks.
This obstacle has not stopped the team’s hard work and dedication.
“I’m extremely excited for our upcoming season for a variety of reasons,” head coach Ashley Manion said. “The team chemistry has been great on both ends of the field with the offense clicking and everyone finding their role and contributing.”
The Raiders will take on 17 regular-season games with 12 of them being PSAC competitions.
SU is hoping that it will take that success into the post-season games.
Having eight seniors brings a great deal of leadership to the team this season.
These eight players will act as the team’s base that it will rely on to get the job done in making PSAC playoffs.
The rest of the team consists of three juniors, three sophomores and a strong class of nine freshmen.
“I expect this season to be one to remember for Ship (lacrosse) with drive, leadership and talent this group has,” Manion said.
SU’s plan to fulfill its goal is to focus on the process this year and taking each day, practice and game one at a time.
The coach explained that she will look to go deeper into the bench then she ever has, which goes to show how much talent the Raiders have for this upcoming season.
“I know we have great potential this season and I’m looking forward to going very far this year and making the playoffs,” senior captain Bennett Widlake said. The team’s work ethic has been outstanding so far this season.
“We are a very close team so we mesh and connect on the field really well. I think we will surprise people this season because we have so much talent,” freshman mid-fielder Amanda Frank said.
A player to watch for SU is senior Courtney Kennedy, who notched a team-leading 31 goals in 2013.
Shelia Johnson also will be a crucial part of the Raiders’ success in 2014. Johnson finished 2013 with 24 goals and 10 assists for the Raiders.
SU will also rely on sophomore goalkeeper Ally Frymoyer. Frymoyer started all of SU’s games in the net and tallied 143 saves, a 8.41 save average per game which notched her fourth in the PSAC division.
The Raiders kick off the season when they travel to Shepherd University on March 5 before playing their first home game against Merrimack College on March 9.
SU then embarks on a three-game road trip over spring break, making stops in West Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
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