Women's Lacrosse 2020 Season Preview
The Central Connecticut State University women's lacrosse team returns 14 players and welcomes five more as head coach Betsy Vendel enters her second season.
The Central Connecticut State University women's lacrosse team returns 14 players and welcomes five more as head coach Betsy Vendel enters her second season.
Highlighting the returners are Morgan Sinton who led the 2019 team in points (32), assists (11), and was second in goals (21).
"Morgan is fundamentally sound and very consistent," says Vendel. "She had a great fall season and will be ready to lead our attack again this spring."
Returning captain Molly Coogan was third on the 2019 team in points (19), goals (13), and second in assists (6).
"Molly played a solid roll for us last season," says Vendel. "She showed terrific growth during our fall season, so I'm excited about her potential this spring."
Sinton, Coogan, Keeley Henry and Emma Sullivan will serve as captains for the 2020 season.
Henry will lead the Blue Devils defense in front of goalkeepers Cooper Cowdin and Emily Erne.
Cowdin appeared in one game last season, tallying just under 10 minutes of playing time. Erne did not enter a game last season.
"Our goalkeepers have two very different styles," says Vendel. "Cooper is athletic, while Emily is more technical. They are both talented and we are confident in them."
Sullivan and Kaitlyn Rapp both started 14 of CCSU's 16 games last season. Sullivan recorded 17 points (12 goals, 5 assists), while Rapp had 16 points (12 goals, 4 assists).
The Blue Devils are scheduled to open their season on Feb. 12 at UMass Lowell. That's the first of eight non-conference games before entering the Northeast Conference schedule, starting with a trip to Sacred Heart on March 29.
"We are well conditioned and ready to fight," says Vendel. "We are ready to out-work and out-hustle every team we face. If we lose, the other team will have to work very hard to beat us. Combine that with the five freshman who are all ready to contribute and I'm excited for this season."
The Northease Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll was announced on Thursday, Jan. 30. Wagner collected six first-place votes and was tabbed the favorite, followed by Mount St. Mary's, which got three first-place votes. Central was picked ninth. The 2020 NEC Women's Lacrosse Championship will be held on April 30 and May 2, hosted by the top seed.
2020 Northeast Conference Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
1. Wagner (6)
2. Mount St. Mary's (3)
3. Robert Morris
4. Bryant
5. LIU
6. Saint Francis U
7. Sacred Heart
8. Merrimack
9. CCSU