Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/20/14
This is one of a series of previews for the 2014 Philly lacrosse season
Souderton Area High School
Head Coach: Kelly Kelly, 2nd Season
Assistant Coaches: Lauren Whiteside and Amber Hoch
Last year’s record: 9-9, 6-6 League
Key returning players:
Michelle Goodwin,-Senior, Defense
Chessie Rahmer- Senior, Midfield
Nikki Palmer- Senior, Attack
Alexa Schneider- Senior, Midfield
Natalie Bulgier- Junior, Midfield
Amber Lambeth- Junior, Midfield
Jen Bergey- Senior, Goalie
Notable losses:
Alyssa Ziegler- West Chester University Women’s Lacrosse
Bekah Hershey- Lock Haven University Women’s Field Hockey
**Kelsey Russell- Senior, Defender suffered a knee injury during the fall
Others to watch:
Brittany Roynan- Junior, Midfield
Emily Hopkins- Junior, Defense
Rachel Judge—Junior, Attack
Krista Schneider- Sophomore, Attack
Juliana Ofalt- Sophomore, Defense
Kelly Williams- Junior, Goalie
Coach’s Outlook: “Our team this season is placing an emphasis on hard work and determination. The teams leaders set a high standard for our work ethic. The girls work hard in each practice to make each other better. We have a good group of Seniors to lead the way on the field. They have played together since youth ball and are very excited for this season. With the new alignment and set up of our conference it should make for some interesting, high intensity games. We will need to be ready for each and every conference game this season since we only see each team one time.”
Games to watch:
We will be hosting a Pink Game on April 10th at 6 p.m. against CB South to raise money and awareness of Breast Cancer for Susan G Komen Race for the Cure. It will also be our community night and the Souderton Boys lacrosse will be playing immediately following.
Lower Moreland High School
Head Coach: Jessica Brown, 3rd year as Head Coach
Assistant Coach: Trish Zawacki, 1st year
Last year’s record: 1-13, tied for 3rd place in the BAL
Key returning players:
Devon Felix, mid-field; Janine Rajauski, defense; Claire McPherson, goalie; Kaila Landau, mid-field; Megan Stoughton, defense; Sarah Berkenstock, defense; Andrew Leonard, attack; Amanda Nguy, attack; Lauren Rajauski, mid-field
Coach’s Outlook: “One crucial factor will positively affect the Lower Moreland lacrosse team this year: experience.
“Last year, the team consisted of fifty players, with thirty of those players being brand new to the sport of lacrosse. This season, many of those new players have returned and will begin playing more important roles on the team. As opposed to thirty brand new lacrosse players last year, we have about thirteen student-athletes who have never played the sport before, and after one week of practice, those players are transitioning nicely.
“While we lost four great starters last year, my assistant, Coach Zawacki, and I are confident that we will be able to fulfill those roles with our two seniors and huge group of juniors this season. I am also really excited about our freshmen group this year. We have a very athletic group of freshmen, with most having played a fall or winter sport here at the High School.
“We appear to be a young group, yet again, but we are looking forward to watching the team continue to mesh and grow. Coach Zawacki and I are also excited to see the results of the lacrosse team’s first fundraiser, the senior vs. staff basketball game referred to as the Ultimate Challenge, which takes place Friday, March 14th. Proceeds go toward the Sunshine Foundation. The team this year is showing enthusiasm both on and off the field through hard work at practice, ideas and initiative while fundraising, and a strong understanding of the basic game of lacrosse.”
