According to LaxPower.com, the Clarkson University Women’s Lacrosse team was rated as the 61st best team in the country in 2009, with more than 180 teams nationwide at the Division III level. It finished in the top half in scoring, just outside the top half in defense, and was outscored by just 14 goals (188-174) in 14 contests. In other words, the statistics tell a story of a team that was better than a 4-10 record, and an upswing in the win column is inevitable.
One thing hurting the Golden Knights in 2009 and in years past is the difficult schedule posed by the Liberty League, one of the top three conferences in Division III and the producer of the national champion in 2008. However, Clarkson, under second-year head coach Kathryn Durki and assistant coach Kindra Catalano, is in a better position than ever to turn its close defeats into momentum-building victories and the team is poised to take a shot at the conference tournament in 2010.
The Golden Knights lost some valuable players to graduation, including two of the top three scorers in program history, but the team returns its most valued offensive asset in senior midfielder Kimberly Loucks (Waterloo, NY). Already the owner of the single-season goal record, Loucks should take over the school’s all-time goal scoring record and all-time point-scoring mark in her final season. A Liberty League First-Team All-Star (only the second player in Clarkson history to gain such an accolade), Loucks was one of the top scorers in the conference with 62 points on 49 goals and 13 assists. She ranked first in goals per game (3.50) and ranked among the conference leaders in points per game (4.43) and assists per game (0.93).
Loucks will lead a capable, if young, offense with plenty of quick players who may be short on experience but have plenty of skill. Junior Cammie Hayes (Queensbury, NY) has a quick first step and should use that agility to record more goals in her second season playing collegiately. Sophomore Laura Barlow (Latham, NY) added four goals and an assist in her first season and will also be looked to for more scoring punch this year.
The Knights attackers are all freshmen outside of Hayes and Barlow and will clearly be counted on to pay immediate dividends. Katie VanDeValk (Baldwinsville, NY) and Alyssa Cristaldi (North Syracuse, NY) have already shown a penchant for finding one another in the open field and could become the team’s leaders in assists. Classmate Kerrie Cline (Tuxedo, NY) has an incredibly hard shot for a first-year and could surprise goalies with rapid shots out of nowhere. Freshman Katherine Jondro (Waitsfield, VT) will also see time up front, but may take some time to get acclimated to the playbook following a long season on the slopes, participating on the Clarkson Alpine Ski squad.
While Loucks is the lone senior midfielder, that area is better represented with veterans than the attackers. Junior Robyn Bumgartner (Bethel, CT) started all 14 games last season and scored six goals for the Knights, while sophomores Saryn Campbell (West Bolton, VT) and Alyssa Dausman (Syracuse, NY) also contributed largely to Clarkson’s improved scoring attack. Dausman added three goals and an assist for Clarkson, while Campbell spent a lot of time in the middle on draw controls, ranking third in the conference in that category (42). Winning the draws helped Campbell rank fourth on the team in goals with 22, totaling 25 points overall. She also tied for second with Loucks on groundballs with 29.
Defensively, the Knights should improve in 2010 as goaltender Hannah Walters (Amherst, NH) has a year of collegiate experience behind her. Walters, named a Liberty League Honorable Mention All-Star, ranked 11th in the country in saves, and 21st in the country in save-percentage. Looking to minimize the opponents’ chances, senior Kim Francis (Fulton, NY) will lead a strong group. Francis, a solid stay-at-home defender is the tallest player on the team and her reach makes for a difficult obstacle. Junior transfer Catherine Burgess (Watertown, NY) spent two seasons at Jefferson Community College and her experience will be a plus as she will make an immediate impact as a starter. Sophomore Hillary Clifton (Killingworth, CT) will also prove to be a pesky defender as she has showcased impressive footwork and endurance, qualities that can give offensive players fits.
Adding depth to the defense and defensive midfield is a strong group of newcomers competing for time. Freshmen Morgan McGowan (Stony Point, NY) and Emily Luckette (Dewitt, NY) may not start right away, but their skill sets should provide an excellent option for the rotation of defensive midfielder. Classmate Noelle Miller (Hamburg, NY) will likely ease her way into the lineup as the season progresses since she is finishing out her first season for the Clarkson Women’s Basketball team. The restricted defenders will be sophomore Mary Twiss (Potsdam, NY) and freshmen Jeannette Pendergast (Greenfield Center, NY) and Amanda Calton (Ogdensburg, NY), who all should provide depth as they become acclimated to the college game.
