Women's Lacrosse
2006 Women's Lacrosse Preview
Date: February 3, 2006
Location: Two All
Americans, seven all-conference players and 21 letterwinners return to the fold for sixth-year head coach Stephani Brzezowski and her 2006 Denison Women's Lacrosse team. After going unbeaten in conference play during the 2005 regular season and earning a number one seed in the North Coast Athletic Conference postseason tournament, Denison was knocked off in the championship by Ohio Wesleyan, just missing their ultimate goal of a return to the NCAA Tournament. After losing just one senior to graduation, Brzezowski is all smiles about the prospect of a breakthrough year in 2006. To top things off, Denison has been chosen as the host site for the NCAC Tournament. The stars seem to be aligning for a potentially terrific season. "The conference championships are going to be on our home field and we want to win it. Losing last year in the final 10 minutes like we did, this senior class is determined not to let it go this time." Back in the cage for Denison is junior Carolyn Hicks (Gates Mills, Ohio/Hawken School). In her second-year as a starter Hicks came into her own and took on more of a leadership role with the team. After posting a .548 saver percentage last year, Hicks earned third-team All-America honors and was a NCAC first-team selection. After spending the summer playing with an international team in Australia, Hicks enters this year as a seasoned veteran. Playing along with Hicks in the defense will be returning NCAC Defensive Player of the Year, Molly Lamdin (Darien, Conn./Darien), junior Lindsay Burh (Manhassett, N.Y./Manhassett) and senior Sara Coulam (Hudon-on-Croton, N.Y./Masters School). Lamdin is a two-time first team All-NCAC pick and a three-year starter brings a great deal of maturity and leadership to the fold. At defensive wing Katie Grunst (North Versailles, Pa./The Ellis School), Jess Cornbrooks (Wilton, Conn./Wilton) and Hayley Stineman (Darien, Conn./Darien) are back after playing in every game last year. All three are quick and aggressive players with good offensive instincts. Also playing in the defense will be Tricia Newton (Culver, Ind./Culver Academy) and Beth Wood (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South) who are both expected to see increased playing time this year. The chemistry formed between Hicks and the defense will be a strong point for the Big Red. "The team has learned how to play with Carolyn and they know how to help each other out. Having a player like Carolyn back there can take some of the pressure off the defense and in the process make the whole defensive unit a lot stronger," explained Brzezowski. In the offensive midfield senior All-American Courtney Abrams (Washington, D.C./The Bullis School) leads another deep and talented group which have years of playing time under their belts. Abrams was second on the team in points last year with 34 (26 goals, 8 assists) and has 96 career goals. Aware that other teams will be keying in on her this season, Abrams' offseason training has been amped up and she is entering this season in the best playing shape of her career. Also playing in the midfield will be senior Marcy Beinert (Williston, Vt./Champlain Valley Union), junior Krissy Frost (Wilton, Conn./Wilton) and sophomores, Read Powel (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Hathaway Brown) and Quinn Simmons (Medina, Ohio/Medina). Simmons led the tam in goals with 30 as a freshman and was named the NCAC Newcomer of the Year. She finished the year sixth in the conference in goal scoring. Frost was third on the team with 28 goals and Powel added 13 scores last year. At attack, senior Liz Hollick (Owings Mills, Md./Roland Park) and Meg Wilcox (Sewickley, Pa./Quaker Valley) bring a combined 42 goals from last year to the table. Both players also possess strong passing abilities, with Hollick tying for the team lead wit eight last year. Also back at attack is senior co-captain Jess Frey (Marblehead, Mass./Marblehead) who has been one of the most improved players over the course of her three years in a Big Red uniform. She also received the Heart of the Team award at last year's banquet has a strong grasp of the offense. Rounding out the returning players at attack is sophomores Anna Brandt (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights), Hallie Routh (Alexandria, Va./St. Stephens & St. Agnes) and junior Rebecca Schoenherr (Winchester, Maine/Winchester) and senior Jessamyn Modrak (Arlington, Va./Yorktown). This year's freshman class is made up of five players who will have the chance to hone their skills this year and work themselves into the rotation. They are Michelle Bennett (Bronx, N.Y./The Taft School), Jill Carr (Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi) and Katie Kubasta (Medina, Ohio/Medina).