BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University women's lacrosse team, under the direction of second-year head coach Nicholle St. Pierre, will look to its veterans to make a return to the top of the Ohio Athletic Conference in 2019.
St. Pierre returns 14 letterwinners and three All-OAC players from last year's squad that posted an overall record of 7-10 and a 5-3 mark in the conference, advancing to the tournament for the fifth consecutive season. Four new faces will also join the team this spring, looking to make immediate contributions.
"We have an older team between our junior class and our senior leadership so our goal is to exceed expectations this year and make the OAC Tournament again," St. Pierre said. "I am confident where we sit and where we are playing wise."
The veteran presence starts up front on offense with three-time All-OAC and Academic All-OAC attack Hannah Albrechta (Uniontown/Green), senior attack Mackenzie Moran (Carlisle, Pa.) and junior All-OAC attack Brie Martineau (Strongsville).
Currently standing third in career goals and assists and fourth in points, Albrechta will look to climb the all-time ranks and become the third Yellow Jacket women's lacrosse player to score 100 goals. Moran is coming off a career junior campaign that saw 11 goals, 10 assists and 21 points on offense and 21 ground balls, 20 draw controls and 12 caused turnovers on defense. Meanwhile, Martineau notched eight goals, four assists and 12 points in an injury-shortened sophomore season and will look to fill out the stat sheet once again this year.
Sophomore attack Alexis O'Neill (Westlake) added 12 goals in just nine appearances during her freshman season and will add even more depth to the offense with one season under her belt. Under the guidance of her veteran teammates, freshman attack Kelley Blevins (Hilliard/Davidson) will gain valuable experience in her inaugural season.
Leading the midfield group will be three-time captain and two-time All-OAC midfielder Megan Patrick (Ravenna/Kent Roosevelt). In 2018, her career-best 53 ground balls, 79 draw controls and 31 caused turnovers led the team while her 31 goals was second best on the squad. Patrick currently sits fifth in career goals (75), seventh in points (91), third in ground balls (140), second in draw controls (108) and third in caused turnovers (61).
Two junior midfielders in Savanna Jaekle (Lockport, N.Y.) and Jordan Paugh (South Lyon, Mich.) add more all-around depth after standout sophomore seasons. Jaekle and Paugh combined for 38 goals, 18 assists and 56 points on offense and 63 ground balls, 55 draw controls and 29 caused turnovers on defense. Both will look for continued improvement now as upperclassmen.
Sophomore midfielder Maddie Ray (Cuyahoga Falls/Akron Revere) joins the Yellow Jackets after transferring from NCAA Division I St. Francis (Pa.) University where she recorded one goal and one assist for two points in seven games for the Red Flash. Along with Ray, freshman midfielder Sid Chamberlin (Wooster) round out the group.
Making a position switch will be junior All-OAC and Academic All-OAC defender Hannah Stein (Medina/Highland) as she steps in to solidify a younger back line. As a midfielder last season, Stein tallied career highs with 30 goals, four assists, 34 points and 50 draw controls while adding 18 ground balls and 14 caused turnovers.
Alongside Stein will be sophomore defenders Cassidy Prather (Penn Yan, N.Y./Penn Yan Academy) and Christina Roskoph (Strongsville). Prather appeared in and started all 17 games as a freshman with 30 ground balls and 18 caused turnovers. Roskoph went back-and-forth between the midfield and the back line a season ago and notched 11 goals, three assists, 14 points, 13 ground balls, three draw controls and two caused turnovers.
Junior Academic All-OAC defender Erika Davidson (East Aurora, N.Y.) also made 17 appearances and 14 starts on the back line in 2018 en route to a career-best 23 ground balls and seven caused turnovers. Sophomore defenders Ireland Flores Rae (Sylvania/Saint Ursula Academy) and Britt Bash (New Richmond/Cincinnati Country Day) and freshman defender Taylor Nadal (Dublin/Scioto) will each look to tighten up the defense in 2019.
The lone net-minder will be sophomore goalkeeper Ashleigh Hildreth (North Tonawanda, N.Y./Sweet Home), who has increased her confidence and communication after her first collegiate season. Hildreth already ranks second all-time in career saves with 128 and owns the single-game save record with 18 stops against Denison.
BW will host Centre (Ky.) College to open up the 2019 season on Saturday, Feb. 23, at 3:30 p.m. inside George Finnie Stadium. The Yellow Jackets open up OAC action on the road on Saturday, March 23, against Capital University.