With the core group of her team returning and the most dedicated collection of players she has ever come across Rensselaer, women’s lacrosse Head Coach Leslie Khachadourian had a sparkle in her eye and excitement in her voice as she talked about the team’s 2004 season.
“Coaches have no idea what’s coming at them this year,” Khachadourian said. “They haven’t even seen the tip of the ice berg.”
Simply put, the Rensselaer women’s lacrosse program has changed in its transition from last year’s season to the present as opposing teams now have to think twice before marking a W next to RPI on the schedule.
“I have had coaches come up to me and say, ‘Wow Leslie you guys have really gotten better. We are going to have to start scouting you,’” Khachadourian said. “That for us is a turning point.”
The Red Hawks have showed tremendous growth over the last few seasons as the program has begun to attract more talented and knowledgeable recruits. However, with this influx of youth comes inexperience, which will be a major weakness for RPI, especially since Rensselaer will face seven teams ranked 20 or higher in the nation.
Despite RPI’s tough schedule the team is hopeful they can finish .500 or better and maybe sneak into the UCAA tournament. But to reach their present expectations the Red Hawks will need their six seniors and particularly their three captains, Alyssa Klem, Mary Roy, and Mary Beth Cooley, to provide the necessary leadership for a team bursting with potential.
“All three of our captains are very talented,” Khachadourian said. “They are all strong players on the field but they are stronger leaders off the field. We have underclassmen that have come in and really benefited from their leadership.”
Klem will anchor the defense while Roy and Cooley will patrol the midfield for RPI, but the captains will not be the only players the Red Hawks will be relying on this season.
Jenn Celli, Hillary Lahn, and Rebecca Primm will all be crucial parts of the Rensselaer defense as they try to lessen the burden on standout goaltender Meghan Gaul.
“Meghan is one of the strongest goalies in the conference. She should receive some UCAA recognition this year,” Khachadourian said. “Celli really challenges opponents on defense. Lahn has come leaps and bounds to going from a solid defender to know being one of my go to scorers. Primm is outstanding on defense and between her and Klem they can cover just about anything.”
Offensively Roy, Cooley, Lahn, and Erin Campbell will look to shoulder much of the load for the Red Hawks as they team’s looks to do something it failed to do in previous years, put goals in the net.
Rensselaer, who played its first two games over spring break in Orlando, Florida, returned 1-1 after a deflating 13-6 loss to Wesleyan and an impressive 16-1 win over Salve Regina. Campbell scored three goals in the loss to Wesleyan and Gaul was solid with 18 saves.
