GAME CENTER:
WATERBURY, Conn. – Under the leadership of first-year head coach Laura Campbell, the Post University women's lacrosse team looks to improve upon its 1-14 season a year ago. The Eagles kick off their season at home on Tuesday, March 5 against Bridgeport at 3:30 p.m. Post is 1-1 against Bridgeport since the program gained varsity status in 2010.
During her four years as a Division I head coach at two schools, Campbell has led her squads to the postseason each season. She is joined on the sidelines by former Eagles standout
Mallorie Michalak. Michalak was named second-team All-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) last season. She led the conference with 53 ground balls and was second on the Eagles with 42 points in 2012.
“With a difficult conference, and a strong out of conference schedule, it will not be easy, but this team, though still in the building process, truly embodies the definition of the word team,” said Campbell. “If they continue to progress at the rate they have already done so this off-season, they should be able to improve upon last year's output and have a shot at making some noise in the CACC in 2013.”
Players To Watch
Post returns four of its top five scorers from a year ago, led by senior
Morgan Kanavy (Syracuse, N.Y.) who had a team-high 44 points (39 goals, four assists) in 2012. Sophomore captain
Miranda Polaski (Agawam, Mass.) played in just six games last season, but still managed to score 18 goals. Junior
Meghan Diggett (East Islip, N.Y.) and sophomore
Eryka Baez (Clifton, N.J.) also return. The duo combined to score 35 goals.
Coach Campbell believes the Eagles' young defense will prove challenging for opposing teams. “Freshman
Mariah Morris (Vilseck, Germany) has shown that opposing attackers will have a hard time getting through to new goalkeeper sophomore
Kathy Walker (Dorchester, Mass.), said Campbell, “Kathy is ready to make sure that opposing teams will have an even harder time finding the back of the net.”
Schedule Outlook
Post will begin the 15-games slate season with back-to-back home dates against in-state rival Bridgeport and American International on March 5 and March 13, respectively. Post will open CACC play against Dominican on March 20, at LaMoy Field. The Eagles will welcome 2012 CACC Tournament champion Holy Family to Waterbury on April 14, while Georgian Court and Wilmington will visit Post on April 17 and April 20, respectively.
Campbell Tabbed As Head Coach
Laura Campbell was announced as the second head women's lacrosse coach in program history on Nov. 13. Campbell returns to her home state with four years of Division I head coaching experience at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and most recently American University in Washington D.C. During her two seasons at American, she amassed 16 wins at her alma mater. Additionally, she mentored seven All-Patriot League selections en route to the conference semifinals each year. Following the 2011 and 2012 seasons the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) lauded the Eagles as they maintained the highest team grade-point average among all Division I institutions.
Preseason Prognostications:
The Eagles were picked to finish third in the CACC North Division as voted on by the eight conference coaches on Feb. 25. Post received seven points in the poll. Georgian Court garnered 15 points, the most of any team, and three first-place votes and was selected first in the North Division. Defending CACC Champion, Holy Family, grabbed the top spot in the South Division with 13 points and three first-place votes.
Eagles Take Plunge To Support Special Olympics
The Post University women's lacrosse team participated in the Penguin Plunge on Saturday, Feb. 23. The Eagles braved the frigid waters of Crystal Lake in Middletown, Conn. to raise $1,400 for Special Olympics Connecticut. The event had 248 participants and raised over $55,000 for Special Olympics Connecticut's year-round programs of sports training and athletic competition for people with intellectual disabilities.
