Florida Lacrosse Hosts England in First-Ever International Exhibition

The No. 5 Florida lacrosse team hits the field for the first time in 2012 Thursday evening to host the England National Team in an exhibition game at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. Opening draw is set for 6:30 p.m.

Florida finished the 2011 season with a 16-4 overall record, including going a perfect 5-0 in American Lacrosse Conference play to take the conference title away from Northwestern for the first time since 2004. Florida became the fastest program in poll history to enter the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) top 10, and on April 25, 2011, became the highest-ranked second-year program ever, earning the No. 2 spot.

After reaching their first ALC Championship game, (L, 10-9 to Northwestern), the Gators earned their first-ever NCAA Tournament bid, receiving the fourth overall seed. On May 14, UF hosted No. 7 Stanford in the first NCAA lacrosse tournament game ever to be held in the state of Florida, and picked up their first NCAA victory, 13-11. The Gators’ impressive season finally came to an end the following week, as they fell, 13-9, to No. 5 Duke in the Quarterfinals. Florida finished the year ranked No. 5 in the IWLCA final poll.

The Gators return 17 players from their record-breaking 2011 season, including 11 starters, while bringing in the No. 3 recruiting class in the nation, according to Inside Lacrosse magazine. Four new Gators were named to IL’s top-25 list; No. 6 Shannon Gilroy (Huntington, N.Y.), No. 12 Nicole Graziano (Mendham, N.J.), No. 15 Nora Barry (Marcellus, N.Y.) and No. 18 Sally Jentis (Ridgewood, N.J.); all of whom are expected to see significant playing time in 2012. Additionally, Taylor McCord (Jacksonville, Fla.) was named to the Freshman Watch List. The Gators also welcome freshmen Mikki Offit (Bethesda, Md.) and Maegan Meritz (Farmingdale, N.Y.), along with junior attacker Gabi Wiegand (Bay Shore, N.Y.), a transfer from the University of Richmond.

Among their returning players are All-Americans Kitty Cullen (Rockville, Md.), Sam Farrell (Millersville, Md.) and Ashley Bruns (Ellicott City, Md.), along with Second-Team All-ALC selections Haydon Judge (Chestertown, Md.) and Mikey Meagher (Liverpool, N.Y.). Cullen finished 2011 ranked second in the nation in both goals (77) and goals per game (3.86) and was fifth overall in points (86). Meagher ended the year ranked 10th in goals-against average (8.67), and Bruns ranked in the top 20 in points (16^th, 74) and assists (18^th, 28). As a team, Florida was seventh among the 92 Division I teams in winning percentage (.800), 10^th in scoring margin (4.50), 12^th in both scoring defense (8.95) and points (349) and 14^th in scoring offense (13.45).

“We haven’t graduated anyone and we have a great group of freshmen that have come in and done a fantastic job of knowing our style and fitting into our style,” Head Coach Amanda O’Leary said. “We’re going to be the same team that we saw last year, and hopefully even a little bit better.”

Thursday’s contest against the England National Team marks the Gators’ first international competition. Although Florida has never played a national team before, all three of the Gators’ coaches have faced England as members of the U.S. National Team. Assistant Coaches Erica LaGrow and Caitlyn McFadden played against England in the 2009 FIL World Cup, winning 20-3 in the semifinals en route to a U.S. gold medal. The pair will take to the field once again Friday night with the U.S. Women’s Elite Team, as they take on England in the Champion Challenge at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.

Coach O’Leary played against England in back-to-back World Cup finals in 1989 and 1993, as the Americans came out on top both times to bring home the gold.

“England is our first international competition ever, so we’re very, very excited to hit the field,” O’Leary said. “I think we’re just looking to see where we are at this point in time. We’ve been practicing for about two and a half weeks, so I think it’s going to be a good gauge as to where we are offensively.”

The England National Team embarks on its U.S. tour as preparation for the 2013 FIL World Cup in Canada. They won the Home Internationals tournament in April, 2011, defeating Scotland and Wales in decisive victories to earn the tournament sweep. Kirsten Lafferty of Birmingham University, who will face the Gators on Thursday, was named the Under 24 Player of the Series.

England medaled in six straight World Cups, from 1989 to 2005, but has yet to join the United States and Australia as the only two nations to have brought home the gold. The Red and White are currently ranked fourth in the world, heading into 2013.

Thursday’s game can be heard on Sportsradio 850 as well as streaming live on GatorZone.com, with Mike Gillespie on the call. LiveStats for the game can be found here, and be sure to follow @GatorZoneLAX on Twitter for live updates from the press box.

Women's Lacrosse Ranked 3rd In Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Poll

Lacrosse Magazine released its 2010 NCAA Division II Women's preseason poll, slotting the C.W. Post Pioneers in the No. 3 spot to start the season. C.W. Post is joined on the list by East Coast Conference rival Dowling College, who is ranked 4th.

The Pioneers return to the field under the direction of fifth-year head coach Meghan McNamara. C.W. Post completed the 2010 season with  13-4 overall record and 7-1 slate in the ECC.  The Pioneers return three IWLCA All-Americans including seniors Chelsea Donaldson (Bay Shore, N.Y.), Lauren Spagnoletta (West Islip, N.Y.), and sophomore Jackie Sileo (Wantagh, N.Y.), along with 2010 All-American Ashley Olen (East Islip, N.Y.), a Tewaarton Trophy nominee who missed last season due to injury.  The Pioneers return a total of seven All-East Coast Conference players along with four All-Region selections to the field in 2011.  

McNamara and the Pioneers kick off their season March 2 at 4 p.m. as they host St. Anselm in their season opener.

Twitter Love

For those of you who have not been on twitter or are not friends with lacrosse people on Twitter then you have not heard of the traggic new of club Penn State lacrosse player Gabriella Sicard. Help Gabby by trending #flyhighgaby on Twitter. Thoughts and prayers go out to friends and family of Gaby and Penn State. One Love, One Lax!!

Update from UNC

Want to hear what's new at UNC? Check out the Women's Lacrosse team newsletter with the inside scoop on whats going down in Chapel Hill.

Devon Gibney And Marissa Caroleo Named Women's Lacrosse Captains For 2012

Quinnipiac women’s lacrosse head coach Danie Caro has announced that seniors Devon Gibney (Hopkinton, Mass.) and Marissa Caroleo (North Babylon, N.Y.) will serve as captains for the 2011-12 season. Caroleo, the reigning 2011 Northeast Conference Player of the Year, and Gibney, the 2011 NEC Tournament MVP, will lead the Bobcats following the team’s first-ever NEC Tournament Championship season in 2011.
"I am quite pleased to announce that Marissa Caroleo and Devon Gibney will serve as captains for the 2011-12 year," head coach Danie Caro said. "They are both excellent role models for their teammates, are committed to the betterment of the women's lacrosse program, and have embraced the high standards set by those that have served before them. I have no doubt they will do a great job this year."
Caroleo returns as one of the top-scoring threats in the NEC, as she led the league in goals (53), points (63) and points per game (2.94). Her goal total set a new program-high for single season goals, while she finished with the second-most single-season points in program history.  On three separate occasions throughout the season, Caroleo scored a career-high six goals in a game, helping her to eclipse the 100 career-point mark. This feat was coincidentally accomplished during one of those six-goal performances, on April 17 against Long Island.
The North Babylon native had a fiery internal engine and a keen nose for the ball, finishing second on the team in draw controls (39), third in ground balls (37) and tied for third in caused turnovers (22).
"Marissa is more than just a successful lacrosse player," Caro said. "She is one of the most mentally tough players I have ever coached and she has innate understanding of the importance of 'the little things' that make a good team great. She is someone her teammates believe in, and I think she has the capacity to make her teammates better."
Gibney had another outstanding season for Quinnipiac, garnering All-NEC First-Team honors with Caroleo, compiling career-highs in points (53), assists (15), draw controls (47) and caused turnovers (23). Those same numbers had her ranked first on the team in draw controls, second on the team in goals and caused turnovers, third in points, and fourth in assists. Gibney was the first of the two captains to surpass the 100 career-point mark during the 2011 season, when she did so on April 1 against Sacred Heart during a two-assist performance.
"Devon is one of the best players we've had in the program, and she works extremely hard every day in practice, and her teammates respect that." Caro explained. "She is a fierce competitor who hates to lose, but more importantly, she has the ability to push everyone else to a higher level."
During the NEC Championship weekend, Gibney elevated her game to another level, scoring two goals and three assists during Quinnipiac’s 18-9 Semifinals victory over Sacred Heart, before pouring on six goals and one assist in the Championship game against Mount St. Mary’s. For her outstanding efforts, Gibney was honored as Quinnipiac’s first-ever NEC Tournament MVP.
"I think we are very fortunate to have a strong group of veteran players returning this year, including five seniors, and five juniors. Every single one of them is a great leader by example, and my staff trusts that they will set the tone for the program as we prepare to defend our conference title," Caro said. "Everyone is really excited about the possibilities for the upcoming season, and they are all ready to work to achieve their goals. We couldn't ask for anything more from them."
The Bobcats prepare for the 2012 season with several fall contests, including a visit to Fairfield on Sunday, Oct. 16 when they play Fairfield, Sacred Heart and Central Connecticut, with competition beginning at 11:30 a.m. Quinnipiac plays again on Saturday, Oct. 22 when they host Sacred Heart at 1:30 p.m. and Holy Cross at 4 p.m. Quinnipiac hosts Manhattan and CW Post in its final fall competition on Saturday, Oct. 29, with game-time set for 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
For more information about the women’s lacrosse team, please visit the Official Website of Quinnipiac Athletics, www.QuinnipiacBobcats.com.

The English Patience: Hard Work Pays Off As Cornell Alum Makes England National Lacrosse Team

Ashleigh Smith found herself living with and looking after 13-year-olds in Banbury, England.

Thirty-five of them, to be exact.

Smith, a 2008 Cornell graduate, never saw running a lacrosse program across the Atlantic Ocean as a career option.

“Initially, I thought I'd be in the country for about nine months, spend a bit of time traveling and head back home to start PA school,” Smith said. “Four years later, my plans have totally changed.”

The Maryland native, who played defense on the women's lacrosse team, probably wasn't expecting the news she got two weeks ago, either.

Smith – not a drop of British blood in her body – would be playing lacrosse for the England National Team.

Barely removed from suiting up for the Big Red in Schoellkopf Field, she'll be wearing the white and red of England in January for the 2012 Champion Challenge in Florida. A simple e-mail naming her to the team arrived in her inbox last week.

Not bad for a girl who thought, after moving on to coaching, she would never play lacrosse at a high level again.

* * *

Smith (right) plays in a game against Notre Dame during her Cornell career.

Smith spent five years in Ithaca, playing on the lacrosse team in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008. She missed the 2005 season with an illness, but that didn't stop her from racking up 57 games, three goals and one assist in her career. She sits 10th all-time in Cornell history for caused turnovers (48).

“Ashleigh was a very dedicated and skilled defender for the Big Red,” said Cornell head coach Jenny Graap. “Her career at Cornell, though different from most Ivy League athletes in that she arranged her academics to capture a fifth year of eligibility, showed tremendous dedication and love of the sport.”

Solid numbers, to be sure. But national-team quality? That wasn't a thought in her mind.

With her career at Cornell complete, Smith was hired by the English Lacrosse Association and placed at a secondary school outside the small town of Banbury. The town sits 90 minutes northwest of London and 60 minutes southeast of Birmingham, isolated in the middle of two much larger cities.

Once there, Smith taught physical education, ran the lacrosse program and served as a housemistress for 35 girls.

“She was one of those the most humble individuals on our squad when it came to her athletic abilities,” Graap said. “She was a very considerate and caring teammate. Ashleigh was a selfless leader who was naturally inclined to be supportive and nurturing.”

At first, Smith had a difficult time adjusting to the communication differences between Americans and Brits.

“Particularly for the first week after I arrived, I couldn't understand a thing anyone said,” Smith said. “It was like speaking a different language.”

Now she uses the British spelling of words in e-mails, typing “honoured” without it crossing her mind as strange.

Four years after taking that position in Banbury, she's teaching fourth and second grade at a prep school just outside London. Smith also started a lacrosse program there and is completing grad school at Buckingham University to earn a United Kingdom teaching qualification.

Throughout her time in England, the desire to play lacrosse never left her. And it just so happened that her first mentor in Banbury, Joani Adkins, was a well-connected former player herself.

“As well as being one of the most vibrant, interesting and unique women I had ever met, [Adkins] also happens to be one of the most well-connected people I know,” Smith said. “She's one of those people who always knows someone who knows someone.”

Adkins hooked Smith up right away with Jan Guilbride, a former England National Team coach who now spent time coaching one of five England “representative teams” from across the country. Guilbride encouraged Smith to try out for her Midlands representative team, and Smith made the cut. For the last two years, Midlands has won the competitive Territorials Tournament. Smith and the rest of her Midlands team are hoping to make it three in a row in March.

They say who you know matters more than what you know, and once again connections led Smith to the next level. By playing with Midlands, she eventually found her way to working with the national team. She started as a volunteer coach at first, attending the 2011 Home Nationals Tournament against Scotland and Wales.

Then she discovered, thanks to Coach Sarah Butt, that she would be eligible to compete for England.

Rule 2.1 (d) of the Federation of International Lacrosse's Player Eligibility Criteria is the regulation that applies to Smith. While the rules first describe ways for English citizens to qualify, they go on to detail the rules for non-nationals. By living in the county for a minimum of two years – which Smith has surpassed by two already – she had all she needed to play for England.

The other barrier to playing for the England National Team was that only 15 percent (three of 18) of its players are allowed to be non-nationals.

Smith was one of those three, and she now trains with England as a player.

"It was clear from our first encounter with Ashleigh, as a coach, that she is an exemplary person who has very high standards," Butt said. "Having seen her play at territorial level we invited her to trial for the England squad and were delighted that the same commitment, passion and ability were very evident in her playing.  Ashleigh has been a great addition to the England squad and we look forward to her having a long England career."

* * *
The big change between Cornell lacrosse and the England National Team, she discovered, was that most of the

training for the national team is done on the athletes' own time. Hailing from all around the country, lacrosse players don't have many opportunities to come together for training.

“When a majority of training is done in your own time, fitting around full-time jobs, giving up every weekend, and when the sport is completely self-funded, you need to love what you're doing,” Smith said. “I feel so lucky to be a part of a squad that is both motivating and inspiring. You work hard for the player standing next to you.”

Smith will get her chance to come back to the States for the Champion Challenge in January and February of next year. The event, which takes place at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla., will feature four matches by Smith's England team over three days. England will face the United States national team, Syracuse, Northwestern and Maryland.

More importantly for Smith, she will get to see her family, who is flying down from Maryland for the tournament. Her family will don England gear and even teach some of the British players about an American way of attending sporting events.

“I've even bought my parents some England lacrosse gear as Christmas presents so that they'll be all kitted-out on the sidelines,” Smith said. “I think my parents are really looking forward to introducing the team to a big post-game tailgate!”
And, if all goes well, there could be an even bigger international tournament featuring Smith in the near future: the 2013 World Cup. While that competition is still more than a year away, the 26-year-old is hopeful that she can make that trip to Canada when the time comes.

England, twice a runner-up, has never won the World Cup.

“There's definitely a chance and that is, without a doubt, my ultimate goal,” Smith said. “At the moment though, that seems very far away. There's months of training and hard work ahead. I'm just focusing on playing my best and enjoying the opportunity for as long as I can.”

Barnes and Thomas Named Preseason All-Americans

Two Georgetown University women's lacrosse players have been named to the Inside Lacrosse Preseason Division I All-American list which came out on Wednesday. Senior Kelly Barnes (St. Davids, Pa./Radnor) and junior Sophia Thomas (Lutherville, Md./Maryvale Prep) were both named to the third team and two of 36 student-athletes selected throughout the nation.
Barnes is a defender and a returning captain after leading the squad last season. She earned her second-consecutive spot on the All-BIG EAST team with a nod to the Second Team at the conference banquet in 2011. The defender started all 17 games and ranked third in ground balls with 27 as well as third in caused turnovers with 17. Barnes also had one goal to her credit this past season.
Thomas was a Third Team All-America honoree a season ago. She was a Second Team All-South Region selection after a breakout season. Earlier this year, she was honored with the BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year award and a spot on the All-BIG EAST First Team marking milestones in her young career. The sophomore led the team in goals with 37 and also has eight assists to her credit for 45 points. The midfielder had the most ground balls (42) and caused turnovers (33) on the squad, as well as ranking third in draw controls with 24. She was on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll three times this season.
Thomas was one of 11 players in program history to be named an All-American as a sophomore.
Georgetown finished the season with a record of 9-8 after winning the BIG EAST Regular Season Championship for the fourth-consecutive year.
This year, the team will face seven teams that finished 2011 ranked in the top 20 nationally as well as six NCAA Tournament qualifiers.


Georgetown will start off 2012 hosting the University of Delaware Blue Hens at Multi-Sport Field on Feb. 29. Delaware is new to the Hoyas' schedule this season and finished fourth in the Colonial Athletic Conference a year ago.