For the second year in a row, the women’s lacrosse team was picked to win the Metro Athletic Conference Championships. The question now is will this prediction remain unfulfilled like last year? Fairfield had 47 points in the preseason poll voted on by the league’s coaches. Trailing four points behind was last year’s MAAC champion LeMoyne with 43 points, followed by Niagara in third with 34 points. Marist finished in fourth with 27 points. Along with their number one ranking, Fairfield players Jessica Canhan ’04 and Beth Loffredo ’06 were picked for the Preseason All-MAAC team on attack. Joining them was Colleen Sindall ’04 on defense and Monica Janowitz ’05 as goalkeeper. Loffredo, Sindall, and Janowitz were also named to First Team All-MAAC for their performances in 2003. But as the number one seat with several top players in the league, the beginning of this year’s season sounds a lot like last year’s. And despite similar preseason honors and an undefeated conference record, the women lost to Marist in the semi-finals of the championship tournament last May. What’s different this year? “Last year we had small numbers after losing a good senior class,” said head coach Stacey McCue. “This year we only lost one senior [Meg Main] and had a large number of freshman coming in.” Main hasn’t even left the team completely. She remains on the team as an assistant coach. Eight freshmen joined the 2004 team, including midfielder Ashley Chappell. McCue will be looking at Chappell to fill the offensive spot left open by Main. “[Chappell] knows how to put the ball in the net,” said McCue. Also going to goal will be MAAC Rookie of the year and Fairfield Female Freshman Athlete of the Year, sophomore Loffredo, who led the team with 47 goals and seven assists. Of her efforts this year, she said, “I try to come out everyday with a positive attitude, ready to work hard, and support my teammates.” Loffredo’s All-MAAC teammates, captains Conahan and Sindall will also be contributing their playing experience. Conahan is currently ranked fourth all-time in Fairfield’s history with 92 career goals while Sindall is in tenth place for career draw controls with 36. In addition to the players’ talent, McCue sights herself in the team’s plan towards consistency, referring to the previous four coaches whom each left after only a year. “This is my second year and I plan to stay for future seasons,” said McCue. This year the team is not only looking for a MAAC title. “Our first goal is to win the post season conference, but improving overall is another goal,” said McCue. She is speaking of the 2-8 out of conference record of 2003. “As a young team, we are looking to gain respect among teams like Boston College and Yale,” agreed defensive player Colleen Sand 06. The women will get their a chance to do so in their first game against Davidson College March 1 at Fairfield. “The girls have had confidence from the get go,” McCue said of this year’s team with it’s returning talent and new freshman. It still is to be seen if the team’s growth in numbers, experience, and confidence will carry them through season and all the way to the MAAC Championships at Niagara University in May.
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