“Lack of experience in tight game situations cost us,” commented third-year women’s lacrosse Head Coach Leslie Khachadourian when asked what went wrong during last spring’s 6-8 campaign. Khachadourian hopes that the lessons learned from last season’s tight losses linger—five of the eight losses were by three goals or less—and carry over to the 2005 campaign.
Led by senior captains Hillary Lahn (34 goals, four assists) and Megan Gaul (7.96 goals-against average, 153 saves), the Red Hawks return only nine of 19 players from a year ago. Four players were lost to graduation, while six others quit or were injured in the off-season and can’t play.
With the loss of so many, this year’s squad is very small; only 16 women are on the roster. With 12 ladies on the field at a time, Khachadourian needs all her players to step up. “Having a small squad means everyone is an integral part everyday,” said Khachadourian.
Lahn feels that the small size of the squad will help. “Because we are so small, we are really close, and everyone knows everyone’s strengths and weaknesses,” remarked Lahn.
According to Khachadourian, the team’s best strength this season is its confidence and belief in itself to win every game, not just compete. This confidence comes from last season, when the Red Hawks competed with and stayed close to six nationally-ranked teams.
RPI will use this strength to hopefully compete in the Liberty League Conference, a conference that Khachadourian thinks is the second toughest in the nation. “Hamilton [No. 9], Union [No. 10], and William Smith [No. 12] are all ranked in the Preseason Top 20 poll,” said Khachadourian.
Despite the difficult conference schedule, both Khachadourian and Lahn hope that the Red Hawks will finish above .500 and make the Liberty League Conference tournament for the first time in school history. “We hope we make it to Liberty League playoffs this year or the ECACs, because we have the potential,” commented Lahn.
With the loss of three of their top five scoring threats from last year, Khachadourian will look to six new ladies—four freshmen, one sophomore, and a transfer junior—to fill the voids.
Khachadourian is hoping freshman midfielder Natalie White and defenseman Carly Strife will make an immediate impact for the Red Hawks. White is from Guilford, Conn., and Strife is from nearby Ballston Spa, N.Y. Junior Kate Phillips, who transferred from Drew University and is from Milton, N.Y., will also look to make an impact once she returns from a recent injury, which will keep her out for about half the season.
The team opens its season next Wednesday, March 9 when it travels to Oneonta, N.Y., to take on Hartwick at 4 pm. The Red Hawks open their home schedule Friday, March 11 when they take on Oneonta State on Harkness Field at 4 pm. Liberty League play begins Friday, March 25 when cross-town rival Union invades Harkness Field. All home games are free of charge.
