NCAA Women's Lacrosse 2012 Preview

No. 18 James Madison

With the team’s confidence and swagger, coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe believes she will be able to rely on her team’s leaders to not only take charge this season, but make important decisions that will propel the Dukes to another CAA title.
The Dukes carry a balanced senior group onto the field this season with three attackers, three middies and three defenders.
“Our senior class is a huge part of this program," Klaes-Bawcombe says. "They were Inside Lacrosse’s number two recruiting class of the year back in 2008."

Best Bet:

Redshirt Junior Casey Ancarrow was an All-American as a sophomore and will lead the Dukes offense this year.
“She is just really fun to watch and play with on the field. She makes things look so easy,” Klaes-Bawcombe says.

Sleeper Pick:

Two-time regional All-American senior Cally Chakrian has been in the conference and is looked at by Klaes-Bawcombe as one of the best defenders in the country.
“She is someone who can take that next step and become that national All-American, but she is by far the person we rely on behind the scenes day in and day out that doesn’t necessarily get the hype,” Klaes-Bawcombe says.

Game to Watch:

The Dukes will take on Harvard in March in Cambridge, pitting JMU against a talented and experienced team that made an impressive run toward the end of last season.
“I think that they are similar to JMU in that they are pretty much returning their entire roster and they are coming off a really good season,” Klaes-Bawcombe says.