Le Moyne Athletics : Core value should serve Dolphins well, nucleus of last season's 15-4 team returns (by Donnie Webb) Post-Standard

February 16, 2007

Core value should serve Dolphins well
Nucleus of last season's 15-4 team hungers to get Le Moyne back to NCAAs.

By Donnie Webb
Staff writer, Syracuse Post-Standard

Direct link to story from Syracuse.com - http://www.syracuse.com/articles/sports/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/117162026127470.xml&coll=1

It was the best season in the history of Le Moyne women's lacrosse. Yet, its abrupt end with a loss to Holy Cross in the play-in game to the NCAA championships left the Dolphins a bit empty.

The tank is refilled, coach Lauren O'Connor's squad has been picked to win another Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title and the Dolphins have the talent and motivation to get back into the NCAA field.

"I think we were all kind of disappointed after the game," said O'Connor, who enters her fifth season as Le Moyne's coach with a record of 47-21. "Maybe we needed that experience in the play-in game to fuel them to get to the next step."

The nucleus of the team that finished 15-4 - including a stretch in which it won 12 of 13 games - is back. The Dolphins are led by goalkeeper Samantha Falcone, the returning MAAC defensive player of the year.

The former West Genesee product enters the season the way she did a year ago - with a broken thumb. That didn't stop her return, and O'Connor said Falcone will be her aggressive self in the cage by the opener.

"When she came in, we thought she was just great," O'Connor said. "She was awesome. Every year, she's improved. She came in this year and we're thinking, 'Whoa, I didn't think she could get any better,' and she has."

Falcone, who ranked 10th nationally last season in goals allowed per game (8.5), said her injured right thumb is coming along fine and she likes what she sees in her team.

"We definitely have a solid team this year," Falcone said. "We miss our seniors, but luckily, only three graduated. We have a solid team so far. Our practices have been great. It seems like we have a solid defense and a solid offense."

Whitney Vecchio (General Brown) returns to lead the Le Moyne attack. She scored a school-record 68 points last season. She'll be joined by Amanda Keegan (Marcellus), who led the Dolphins last season with 45 goals. O'Connor said Keegan ranked among the national leaders in several categories, whether it was draw controls or fewest fouls.

Other key returning players include Lisa McCarthy (West Genesee), who scored 31 goals and 16 assists as a freshman; midfielder Karla Hardy (Tully), who is a force on defense and offense; senior defender Kristen Malecki (Baldwinsville); junior Kylie Rosette (General Brown), who was named MVP of last year's MAAC tournament; and Lauren Byrne (Bishop Ludden), who had four goals and an assist in a late-season win at Canisius.

The Dolphins open the season with the longest trip ever by a women's lacrosse team at Le Moyne. They'll be in California's Bay Area over a period of 10 days where they'll play California on Feb. 25, Cal-Davis on Feb. 27 and St. Mary's College on Feb. 28.

"It's a huge deal," O'Connor said. "We've been fund raising and preparing this trip for two years."



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February 16, 2007 Core value should serve Dolphins well Nucleus of last season's 15-4 team hungers to get Le Moyne back to NCAAs. By Donnie Webb Staff writer, Syracuse Post-Standard Direct link to story from Syracuse.com - http://www.syracuse.com/articles/sports/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/117162026127470.xml&coll=1 It was the best season in the history of Le Moyne women's lacrosse. Yet, its abrupt end with a loss to Holy Cross in the play-in game to the NCAA championships left the Dolphins a bit empty. The tank is refilled, coach Lauren O'Connor's squad has been picked to win another Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title and the Dolphins have the talent and motivation to get back into the NCAA field. "I think we were all kind of disappointed after the game," said O'Connor, who enters her fifth season as Le Moyne's coach with a record of 47-21. "Maybe we needed that experience in the play-in game to fuel them to get to the next step." The nucleus of the team that finished 15-4 - including a stretch in which it won 12 of 13 games - is back. The Dolphins are led by goalkeeper Samantha Falcone, the returning MAAC defensive player of the year. The former West Genesee product enters the season the way she did a year ago - with a broken thumb. That didn't stop her return, and O'Connor said Falcone will be her aggressive self in the cage by the opener. "When she came in, we thought she was just great," O'Connor said. "She was awesome. Every year, she's improved. She came in this year and we're thinking, 'Whoa, I didn't think she could get any better,' and she has." Falcone, who ranked 10th nationally last season in goals allowed per game (8.5), said her injured right thumb is coming along fine and she likes what she sees in her team. "We definitely have a solid team this year," Falcone said. "We miss our seniors, but luckily, only three graduated. We have a solid team so far. Our practices have been great. It seems like we have a solid defense and a solid offense." Whitney Vecchio (General Brown) returns to lead the Le Moyne attack. She scored a school-record 68 points last season. She'll be joined by Amanda Keegan (Marcellus), who led the Dolphins last season with 45 goals. O'Connor said Keegan ranked among the national leaders in several categories, whether it was draw controls or fewest fouls. Other key returning players include Lisa McCarthy (West Genesee), who scored 31 goals and 16 assists as a freshman; midfielder Karla Hardy (Tully), who is a force on defense and offense; senior defender Kristen Malecki (Baldwinsville); junior Kylie Rosette (General Brown), who was named MVP of last year's MAAC tournament; and Lauren Byrne (Bishop Ludden), who had four goals and an assist in a late-season win at Canisius. The Dolphins open the season with the longest trip ever by a women's lacrosse team at Le Moyne. They'll be in California's Bay Area over a period of 10 days where they'll play California on Feb. 25, Cal-Davis on Feb. 27 and St. Mary's College on Feb. 28. "It's a huge deal," O'Connor said. "We've been fund raising and preparing this trip for two years."