WATERBURY, Conn. -- Following 10 consecutive seasons without making the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament, the last three seasons for Post University Women's Lacrosse have put them on the up and up after qualifying for the tournament in two of the last three seasons. While last season may be perceived to some as a setback for the Eagles, who did not make the tournament after finishing seventh in the conference, only one game separated them from sixth-seeded University of Bridgeport who was the last team to make it into the tournament -- Post had lost their matchup with the Purple Knights that April, 21-16, at home.
But with most of last year's team coming back and another year of maturity under their belt, the Eagles, who were picked to finish seventh in this season's CACC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll, will have the chance to make some noise in the conference and return back to the CACC Tournament. Back-to-back conference champion Dominican (N.Y.) was predicted to three-peat with 80 points and eight first-place votes while Jefferson University, last year's runner-up who lost in double-overtime to the Lady Chargers, 12-11, got 71 points and the other two first-place votes.
Although most of last year's team is back, the departure of
Morgan Cassiliano who holds numerous all-time records at Post will hit the hardest offensively for the Eagles. Cassiliano led the team with 56 goals to help her finish with 245 career goals, the new gold standard for the program, along with tying for the most games played in program history and as the all-time points leader.
Molly Dobratz, who had the third-most goals on the team with 30, also leaves after a stellar career with the Eagles which takes 86 combined goals off of 175 total goals for the Post offense last season.
Cassiliano and Dobratz both remain with the Post University Women's Lacrosse program as they became assistant coaches under third-year Head Coach
Debra Delfino who picked up a handful of new players for this season. Delfino's team will now include two Post Women's Soccer players in
Amber McGee and
Sierra Tarantino as well as Women's Volleyball player
Colleen Romero who are all in their final year at Post. The biggest splashes for the spring come in the form of two new freshmen from Wrzesnia, Poland in
Roksana Debicka and
Klara Domachowska.
Debicka and Domachowska both played for the Polish National Team as well as attended the same high school and will both play midfield for Delfino's squad as they look to replenish the goal scoring offensive that Dobratz and Cassiliano created last season. One player who is back and contributed heavily to the offense last season is the newest member of the 100 Point Club in
Cara DiStefano. DiStefano had the second-most goals and assists on the team with 31 and 10 respectively while playing in all 16 games last season, it was DiStefano's best season of her career at Post which she will look to continue to build on this year.
Double-digit goal scorers
Hailey McHenry (15 goals) and Gabriella Fiora (13 goals) are back as well for Post, McHenry finished last season with 14 assists which was the most on the team and 29 total points. In all, 10 players registered a goal or an assist last season for the Eagles.
This season, Post will carry only two goalies in
Lauren Bain and
Niky Johnson with Bain likely to be the opening day starter after appearing in nine games last season behind
Christina Badaracco who finished up her career with the Eagles last season. Badaracco holds the record for most single-season wins, second-highest single-season save percentage, most games played/started, most minutes played, most saves, and most wins in program history as well at the end of her Post career.
As for Bain, she transferred in from fellow CACC school, Felician University, last season and played in just under 255 minutes while allowing 47 goals in nine games and made 31 saves. In all, Bain finished with an 11.06 goals against average and .397 save percentage while not picking up a decision in any of the games she appeared in. Johnson played a quarter for Post against Alliance University in which she allowed two goals during the Eagles' 19-4 win on the road last April.
The regular season kicks off in 19 days from now for the women as they travel down the road to Southern Connecticut State University to face the Owls on February 20th at 4:00 PM down in New Haven, Connecticut.
