Two years ago, Beth Loffredo ’06 graduated as the program’s all-time leader in points and goals. Now, she has the Stags off to their best start in program history as the women’s lacrosse interim head coach.
With a win over Mount St. Mary’s on Saturday, the Stags improved to 4-1 with their only loss coming by one point at the hands of No. 13 Yale.
“Team expectations are very high because they’ve proven themselves so far, and we’re four games in,” said Loffredo. “[With] every win I feel like it goes up a little bit.”
Loffredo was named the interim head coach in September, after serving as an assistant coach last season under Stacey McCue, who resigned after five seasons at the helm.
“I guess it could be hard. Everybody’s like ‘Well, you’re an interim so there’s really no pressure,'” said Loffredo. “I think that I’ve tried to take that side of it and have fun rather than feel pressured by it. I can’t really complain about the title.”
With her new title, she is now coaching some of the same players with whom she played only two seasons ago.
“It’s actually not as weird as you’d think,” said Loffredo. “It could have been really strange, but luckily these girls just want to play and they know that when I played, I just wanted to have fun. I think it’s been a lot easier than it could have been for anyone else, but I think the players have a certain respect for me and I have that respect for them.”
Loffredo has two Preseason All-MAAC Team nominees to help ease her adjustment into the coaching ranks.
Seniors Katie von Hoffman and Mary Vallely will look to provide leadership on defense for a team that features only four seniors.
“We want to provide some leadership on the defense and our team,” said Vallely. “We want to win some out of league games that we usually don’t win – like BC. But our focus is on the MAAC.”
Fairfield has struggled in the past to win out-of-conference games, but this season, the Stags are off to their best start ever with wins over Sacred Heart, St. Mary’s, Boston College and Mount St. Mary’s, following a season-opening loss to Yale.
“Every year we are so close, and this year we want to finish those games,” said von Hoffman.
The Stags were picked to finish third this season in the MAAC after going 8-10 overall (5-2 MAAC) last season.
Fairfield has the talent to compete for the title this season. Freshman midfielder Kristen Coleman has already been named MAAC Offensive Player of the Week, MAAC Defensive Player of the Week and MAAC Rookie of the Week.
Coleman leads the team in points and goals with 20 and 16, respectively.
Attackwoman Erin Rigby ’10 is second on the team with 16 points and 10 goals.
Rigby has also won the MAAC Offensive Player of the Week and Caroline Madrak ’08 has won the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week.
Junior Lauren Chatnik has played every minute in goal and boasts a 9.40 goals against average while making 41 percent of her saves.
The team and the players have thrived so far under Loffredo in her first season and the Stags are hoping it continues into conference play, which begins March 29 at Marist.
“I think it’s a perfect balance because we have a former player who was one of us two years ago,” said Vallely. “We also have our assistant coach who has so much experience. It’s a great balance between the coaches.
She added, “It’s really reflected in how our team’s done so far this year.”
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