Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/22/11
From Press Releases
University of Connecticut head lacrosse coach Katie Woods has named seniors Lauren Sparks (West Chester East), Lauren Gunning and Jessica Mucci as team captains for the upcoming 2011 season.
“I am very excited for the energy that these three will bring to the team as leaders,” Woods said. “As a unit they compliment each other very well and they all have strong leadership qualities that I’m sure will make them successful as team captains.”
Sparks, a three-time captain for the Huskies, will be looked upon to lead the team both on and off the field this season as she is a leader not only during games but also in the classroom and throughout all aspects of the sport. Sparks posted 35 points last season on 27 goals and eight assists and returns as one of the most experienced players on the roster. The West Chester native led UConn with 32 draw controls last year after missing the 2009 season with a medical redshirt and will once again lead a talented group of midfielders during the upcoming season.
Gunning, who will continue to provide invaluable leadership on the UConn attack, is a player who has the vision and the ability to put the ball away when needed. Gunning is always one to go above and beyond what she is expected to do, and will help her teammates achieve all of the goals that they set for the upcoming year as she leads a veteran group of attackers during the 2011 campaign.
Mucci will once again be an integral part of the UConn defense after starting all 17 games as a primary defender for the Huskies last season. Over the past three years she has been the backbone of the defensive unit and will continue to be a rock for the Huskies throughout her senior season. As a vocal leader, she is someone that always finds a way to get things accomplished and pushes her teammates to excel on and off the field. The Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. native recorded 25 draw controls last season along with 20 groundballs for the Huskies.
Sparks, Gunning, Mucci and the Huskies will open the 2011 season on Saturday, February 19 when they travel to New Rochelle, N.Y. to face Iona in a 1:00 p.m. contest. UConn’s first home contest of the season will come that following weekend when they host Binghamton on Friday, February 25 with action beginning at 3:00 p.m. at the George J. Sherman-Family Sports Complex.
