Junior Alyssa Briody is a third-team preseason All-America pick by Inside Lacrosse, after tallying 55 points on 33 goals and a team-leading 22 assists last year.

Sixth-Ranked Women's Lacrosse Relies On Veteran Squad In Pursuit of 2006 NESCAC Crown

February 23, 2006

2005 RECAP
The 2005 Amherst College women’s lacrosse team continued its reign as one of the nation’s top programs, finishing fourth in the country at 12-4 overall and 8-2 against opponents in the perennial powerhouse NESCAC. Amherst, which played the second most competitive schedule among Division III teams, began the season with eight straight wins. They downed non-conference opponents Hamilton College and Springfield College, before getting off to a 6-0 start in their conference slate and securing the Little III title with a 13-8 win at archrival Williams College and a narrow 12-11 defeat of Wesleyan University. After falling to top-ranked Middlebury College, 18-6, Amherst rebounded with wins over Wheaton College and Tufts University before dropping a 10-7 overtime game to No. 6 Bowdoin College. Amherst avenged the loss one week later, defeating the Polar Bears in the NESCAC Semifinals, 13-12, to advance to their fifth consecutive NESCAC Championship game against Middlebury. Amherst and Middlebury are the only two teams to compete in the NESCAC championship game in its five-year history. Despite falling to the Panthers, 10-2, the team earned their fifth straight at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. After drawing a first-round bye, the Jeffs were stunned by No. 13 Washington & Lee in a tight second-round bout, as the Generals notched two unanswered goals down the stretch to break a 9-9 tie and seal the upset.

KEY LOSSES
Amherst graduated a supremely talented and spirited class in goaltender Liv D’Ambrosio, midfielder Ashley Harmeling, attacker Cate Smith and defender Jenna Swan-Gross. The foursome posted an incredible 60-12 record in their careers, which included four bids to the NCAA tournament, three visits to the national semifinals, and a victorious trip to the NCAA Division III title game in 2003. Harmeling graduated as one of the most decorated players in program history, racking up two First-Team IWLCA All-America awards and two First-Team womenslacrosse.com All-America nods, in addition to being named twice each to the First-Team IWLCA All-New England, ECAC New England All-Star, and First-Team All-NESCAC, all in just two seasons of play for Amherst. She was also named NESCAC Player of the Year and ECAC New England Player of the Year in 2004 and Second-Team CoSIDA Academic All-America in her senior season. Harmeling currently holds the Amherst single-season scoring records for goals (75), assists (52) and points (127). Co-captains D’Ambrosio and Swan-Gross bolstered a stellar Amherst defense, which gave up just 8.6 goals per game in their final two seasons. Their communication and leadership both on and off the field will be sorely missed. Smith contributed depth to the Amherst attack and will be missed for her enthusiasm, hustle and impassioned play. Swan-Gross earned NESCAC Spring All-Academic honors her senior year, while D’Ambrosio and Smith were NESCAC Spring All-Academic and IWLCA Academic Honor Roll selections in both their junior and senior seasons.

RETURNERS
Inside Lacrosse Pre-Season All-Americas Laura Brown, named to the second team, and Alyssa Briody, a third-team pick, top the list of Amherst’s nine returning starters, as the team boasts a balanced and talented squad entering the 2006 season. A junior attacker, Briody posted a breakout campaign last year, piercing the scoring column in all but one contest, tallying 33 goals and 22 assists and earning first-team ECAC New England All-Star, second-team IWLCA All-New England, and second-team All-NESCAC plaudits in her first year as a starter. She will lead a seasoned Amherst attack with the support of classmate Dana Kuper, who is the teams’ second returning leading scorer with 15 goals and 10 assists in 2005, and senior tri-captain Scotty Hanley. Head Coach Chris Paradis touts the talented offensive unit and predicts opportunities for increased assertiveness from Kuper and Hanley in what should be a more settled Amherst attack. Junior Caroline Shannon and sophomore Maddie Hoeg will compete for spots on the attack after seeing considerable time last season. Senior tri-captain Caitie Parker and juniors Liz Wise and Lauren Dudley bring strength and finesse to the midfield and also present veritable scoring threats, as each contributed 20 points last season. Meanwhile, sophomore Kristina Green add lightning speed to the lineup. Senior tri-captain Brown will head up the Amherst defense, after forcing 64 turnovers in her two years as a starter and being selected to the IWLCA All-New England Second Team and NESCAC Second Team in 2005. She will be bolstered by juniors Rachel Lewis, Emery Sweeney and Maggie Roth, all of whom were instrumental last year; and will now move into even more influential leadership roles with gained confidence. Senior Margaret Chute, who spent last season studying abroad, is a bonus return to the Amherst squad and will contribute quickness and vicious defensive skills. Sophomores Carolyn Shea and Gretchen DeLuke will vie for playing time on the experienced defensive unit. Sophomores Kathleen Boucher and Linda McEvoy make up a balanced and complimentary goaltending team and will compete for time between the pipes after seeing limited action last season.

NEWCOMERS
Amherst welcomes a skilled and athletic recruiting class in 2006. Amy Craig will bring her talents to the attack, while Caroline Gignoux, Caki Guinee, Mary Noonan and Louise Stevenson will vie for roles in the midfield, and Catherine Calvert will join the defensive ranks.