By Nick Forbes, Managing Editor of Content
With winter drawing to a close and the spring sport’s season right around the corner, both the Susquehanna men’s and women’s lacrosse teams are preparing for their first matches of the season.
The men’s team will host their season opener from Sassafras Field at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16 as they square off against rival Lycoming.
Last season, the team finished the season with a 12-7 record, including a 5-1 mark in the Landmark Conference.
After graduating six seniors at the end of last season, the team lost some significant firepower, including the top-two leading scorers in Andrew Porzio (37) and Alec Tzaneteas (31). Luckily, seniors Jake Smolokoff and Jack Donnelly will be returning for their final season, after scoring 22 and 23 goals respectively last season.
Also gearing up for his final season in a River Hawks uniform is goalkeeper Dylan Abplanalp, who started all 19 games last season, has been a constant presence in goal since he grabbed the starting job in his freshman year.
Abplanalp recorded 165 saves as well as a 56.1 save percentage last year.
The women’s lacrosse team will open their season a week after the men’s team, traveling to Misericordia University to face the Cougars at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23.
The team will be looking to improve on last season where they went 4-9 overall and 2-5 in conference play.
The team lost four seniors at the end of the 2018 campaign, including defensive force Una Heinzerling and offensive juggernaut Caroline Rabiecki. Losing a leader on both sides of the field can be difficult for college teams, but there is plenty of young talent ready to contribute for the River Hawks.
In addition to adding three freshman to the squad, senior Kathrina DeMaio will be returning for her final season. DeMaio adds instant offense to the team, as evidence by her 28-goal, 15-assist campaign in 2018.
Gabi Toohey and Stephanie Dowling, who accounted for 38-combined goals last season, will be stepping into their junior year, and Nikki Hauck and Ali Heimer will be expected to adopt bigger roles for Susquehanna.
Junior Libby Dex is expected to remain in goal for the River Hawks, after she started every game last season and recorded 151 saves.