The 2009 season proved to be the strongest year in the Lasell College women's lacrosse program history, earning their best record of 9-7 overall. The Lasers were honored with six Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) all-conference awards, including Coach of the Year to first year head coach Marushka Eddy, and two first team and three second team all co nference awards.
The Lasers started out 2009 with three tough losses, but turned their season around quickly as they went 4-2 in the league and made a GNAC semifinal appearance. The Lasers lost to eventual GNAC Tournament runners-up, Norwich University, in their final game.
Veteran Lasers Tina Canavan (Stonington, Conn.) and Kristen Coderre (Monson, Mass.) each made their mark with spots on the GNAC All-Conference 2nd team. Canavan, a junior this season, was selected to the all-conference team for the second consecutive year finishing the season second in total goals (46) and tied for first in assists (13). She had 59 points, added 32 groundballs, and controlled 69 draws, good for first on the team. Canavan finished the 2009 season ranked 86th in all of the NCAA Division III for goals per game, averaging 3.31 in each contest.
Coderre played in the Lasers net in all sixteen contests this season, leading the Lasers to their best record of 9-7. During that time, the junior goalie collected 195 saves in goal, with a 12.01 goals against average. Coderre was also recognized as Goalkeeper of the Week by the GNAC three times last season, and ECAC Defensive player of the week once. She also finished the season ranked nationally, earning and 18th place ranking in saves per game (12.0), 30th in overall saves, 34th in save percentage (.499), and 87th in goals against average.
Also returning to the team in 2010 will be senior attack Andrea Ward (Hingham, Mass.) and junior midfielder Chelsea Caren (Redding, CT). Ward was third on the team in total points with 39 and was also honored as an All-tournament selection during the GNAC championships in 2009. Caren recorded 17 points for the Lasers last season, nailing eight goals and distributing nine assists, while also picking up 29 draw controls and 26 ground balls.
Additional key players that will be returning to the Lasell mix in the 2010 season include Kristen Noble (West Milford, NJ), Ariel Walmark (West Hartford, CT), April McGrath (Willow Grove, Penn.), and Riley Fickett (Nottingham, NH). In 2009, Walmark produced four goals, two assists, and seven ground balls, Noble added three points, 15 ground balls, and 13 draw controls, and McGrath notched four points and 12 ground balls. Fickett finished her rookie season with 15 ground balls, 13 draw controls, seven caused turnovers, and one point.
In addition to seven new recruits to the Lasers squad this season, Lasell also returns senior midfielder Amanda Martin (Lowell, MA) after sitting out in the 2009 season. In the two previous seasons Martin played in, she notched 14 points, scoring eight goals and adding six assists.
The women's lacrosse team opens up at home on Thursday, March 4th against Curry College, at 3:30 p.m.