NCAA Women's Lacrosse 2012 Preview

No. 11 LOYOLA

After a 17-3 season, running the table at the Big East Tournament and making its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2004, the Greyhounds were a surprise team last season. Entering her fourth season as head coach, Jen Adams looks to continue the progress.
Big East teams must prepare to face a tenacious trio. Primer senior defenders Ana Heneberry, Kellye Gallagher and goalkeeper Kerry Stoothoff all return for a swan song. Gallagher caused 43 while gobbling up 59 groundballs, leading the Grey Hounds in both categories. The backbone of the defense intact, wins against Loyola won’t come easily.
The Grey Hounds relentless defense forces opponents into bad decisions which, last season, catapulted Loyola to victories and always kept them in the game. All three of its losses were by three goals or less. The tight defense resulted in a squad ranked first nationally in caused turnovers per game with an average of 11.75.

Best Bet

Senior Ana Heneberry led a crushing defense that devastated offenses in the Big East and across the country. It comes as no surprise that Heneberry was named the 2012 Big East Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and will again be a key to Loyola’s success.

Sleeper Pick

After a quick start as a freshman, Ashley Moulton’s stats dropped off slightly in her second season. Flying under the radar, look for Moulton to join in on the causing turnover party with her teammates. A rebound in 2012 would only make the team’s already stellar defensive stats that much better.

Game to Watch

Friday, April 27, 2012 Loyola at Syracuse 7 p.m.
Last season, Syracuse knocked off Loyola on the road only to be bested by the hounds a week later in the Big East Tournament. Both matches were single goal affairs with the opposition making a late push. This year, the drama will go down in the Dome in a night game.