2009 Women's Lacrosse Season Preview

Second-year head coach Molly Hesterberg has high hopes for the Hood College women’s lacrosse team in 2009. With a veteran corps of 10 letterwinners returning from last season, and a stout recruiting class of eight newcomers, Hesterberg feels her squad’s aggressiveness and cohesiveness will be two key attributes to Hood’s success in its second season in the Capital Athletic Conference.

Hood returns virtually its entire offense from 2008, including leading scorer Sarah Balukoff. In her first season with the team, the junior midfielder scored a team-best 26 goals, which ranks 10th all-time on Hood’s single-season chart. Hesterberg notes that Balukoff has improved her stick work with her left hand and should be one of Hood’s top scoring threats once again this season.

Classmate Brandy Noel has racked up 48 goals in her two seasons in the blue and gray, ranking her sixth all-time. She will serve as a team captain for the second straight season and according to Hesterberg is the best ball handler on the team.

Sophomore Kelsey Blackwell enjoyed a strong rookie campaign, tallying 17 goals and assisting on four others. Her confidence has improved tremendously and her powerful shot will be an asset to Hood’s attack.

Junior Lauren Perzan took most of the draws last season but will shift to the midfield this spring. Hesterberg will rely on Perzan’s versatility to control the tempo of the game. Perzan was fourth on the team in points with 16 (10 goals, six assists) and controlled 57 draws for the Blazers last season.

Junior Jen Graham and senior Britney Colandreo will bolster Hood’s attack and bring excellent leadership to the young Blazer attack. Freshmen Maria Moss, Katie Vu, Caitlin Salovich and Kim Blocker will vie for starting positions as well on the Hood attack.

Hesterberg considers defense to be the squad’s biggest strength. Anchoring that defense is junior Jayme Frost, who paced the Blazers in caused turnovers (17) and groundballs (43) a year ago. Sophomore Patsy Davis will add quickness as a defender and excels at locking in the opposing attackers, while classmate Abby Dyjack will be a key component in Hood’s transition game. Freshman Julia Banks, who earned all-conference honors for Francis Scott Key High School, looks to have an immediate impact on the Blazer defensive unit.

Hesterberg will platoon a pair of freshmen in goal this season, following the graduation of four-year starting keeper Lauren Lieb. Sam Liptrap and Helene Butler will have a tall task ahead of them as newcomers, facing some of the best attackers in the country from Hood’s CAC rivals.

Hood begins its spring season at home hosting CAC foe Wesley College on Friday, Feb. 20. The Blazers also host league rivals Salisbury, ranked third in NCAA Division III in the preseason coaches’ poll, as well as St. Mary’s College (Md.) and Stevenson University.