2017 Season Preview Video
BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The LIU Brooklyn women's lacrosse team opens the 2017 season this weekend, migrating west to take on two California teams in three days. The Blackbirds open the year Friday, February 10 against Fresno State at 8 p.m. ET, before traveling to take on the University of California Davis, Sunday, February 12 at 3 p.m. ET.
NEC PRESEASON POLL
The Northeast Conference released its 2017 Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll Tuesday afternoon, and the league's coaches tabbed perennial power Bryant as the unanimous NEC women's lacrosse favorite this season. The Bulldogs, who have won or shared the last three NEC regular season crowns, were picked ahead of defending NEC Tournament champion Wagner. LIU was picked to finish eighth.
BLACKBIRDS NAME TEAM CAPTAINS
Fifth-year head coach Allison Hanley announced the selection of her squad's 2017 team captains, seniors Jenn Peters, Mary McQueen, Mackenzie Rolland and Tori Shinkowitz, as well as junior Sierra O'Connor.
Senior midfielder Jenn Peters, a first-team All NEC honoree last season, led the conference in scoring, with a 3.24 goals per game average.
"She has an intensity about her that pushes everyone on the team to do more and want more," Hanley said. "She takes care of delegating, and has a refreshing sense of directness with her communication. Her desire to win is contagious, and she has the capability to take the game on her shoulders when the team needs it."
Senior attacker/midfielder Mary McQueen was another top scorer in the NEC last year, finishing third in the conference in goals per game (2.54).
"Mary is a true student of the game," Hanley said. "She has an impressive lacrosse IQ and always makes herself available to everyone from freshmen to senior in order to help teach and spread her knowledge and game sense. She is an inspiration to the team for how hard she has worked to get back from injury, and she continues to push this team (us coaches included) in every way she can."
"Mack is no nonsense and approachable all rolled into one," Hanley said about senior midfielder Mackenzie Rolland. "She has great awareness of her surroundings on the field, and more importantly, an awareness of the pulse of the team. She is dependable; there is no doubt that she will do whatever this team needs, and is entirely adaptable, both on and off the field."
Senior midfielder Tori Shinkowitz finished 2016 ranked fifth in the conference in draw controls and caused turnovers.
"Tori is a tremendous player and leader for this team," Hanley said. "She will sacrifice her body for the team, and pushes everyone in all areas of fitness as well as the hustle stats. She is feisty and passionate in everything she does, but has a soft side and a logical and thoughtful approach to all situations."
"Sierra takes time to make connections with everyone on the team and makes sacrifices to put the team and their needs first," Hanley said about junior attacker Sierra O'Connor. "She is loyal, trustworthy and a vocal leader for us all over the field. She is confident in what she brings to the team, but needs little recognition and we are excited to expand on her leadership role this season."
EXPERIENCED SQUAD
The Blackbirds are an upperclassmen-heavy time this season, with 12 seniors and juniors on the roster; in addition to the four senior captains, LIU has three other seniors, in Jillian May, Jenna Lasaponara and Kayla Riley, along with four juniors and a graduate student transfer in Taylor O'Connor.
NEW TO THE NEST
In addition to the strong upperclassmen contingent, Coach Hanely added five new faces to the roster. In addition to transfer Taylor O'Connor from Towson on defense, LIU has added four freshmen to the squad: defender Olivia Dennis, midfielder Abby Fox, defender Tori Gray and attacker Bianca Santucci.
LOOKING BACK AT 2016
Last year, the Blackbirds finished 5-12 overall, and 1-6 in Northeast Conference action. LIU ended the year on a high note, beating CCSU at home, 6-5 in overtime. The Blackbirds had several league honorees; Peters was named first-team All NEC at the conclusion of the season, while Peters and Shinkowtiz were both Player and Defensive Player of the Week honorees. And then-freshmen Rorie Crum and Kathryn Harvey were both named NEC Rookies of the Week during the season.
UP NEXT
The Blackbirds remain on the road for the first six games of the season. After the conclusion of their California trip, LIU heads to Virginia to take on Radford (Feb. 22), and then South Carolina to face off against Presbyterian (March 6) and Furman (March 8), before wrapping up the road swing in North Carolina against Gardner-Webb (March 10).