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First year interim head coach Rachel Holz and the Tri-State University women’s lacrosse team are excited about their first season of competition. “The team has been working and studying hard to make the inaugural season a successful one,” said coach Holz.
Attack
The Thunder offense will be led by freshmen Kayla Grieser (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor). Greiser is coming off a strong senior year with 35 goals and was awarded the All-North District Second Team. She will look to use her speed and experience to get through the opposing defense. Supporting Grieser on the offensive side of the field will be senior Kristina Andrews (Kalamazoo, Mich./Mattawan) and newcomers Mallory Young (Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider), Alaina Cowgill (LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte), and Destinee Baker (Howell, Mich./Howell), who will provide great shot placement to find the back of the net.
Midfield
Concord High School 2007 team MVP Samantha Spriggs (Elkhart, Ind./Concord) will use her height to gain draw controls for the Thunder midfield and will look to have a hand in controlling both ends of the field. Newcomers Bridget Brown (Newbury, Ohio/Newbury) and Samantha Kumfer (Columbia City, Ind./Columbia City) will use their speed and endurance to control the midfield play while being versatile for both the Thunder offense and defense. Freshmen Amanda Howe (Mishawaka, Ind./Marian), Melissa Cline (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan), and Allison Bonham (Columbus, Ind./Columbus East) will excel in the midfield by providing aggressive play to lead to turnovers in order to create scoring opportunities for the offense.
Defense
Freshmen Brittany Witkiewicz (Orland Hills, Ill./Victor S. Andrews) will be a strong backbone for the Thunder defense, bringing her strength, endurance, and heart to be a leader in the backfield. Providing physical presence on defense will be newcomers Rachel Runion (Greenfield, Ind./New Palestine), Genice Addis (Cromwell, Ind./West Noble) and Melanie Mott (Parchment, Mich./Parchment). These four solid players will look to play aggressively in the 8-meter-arc zone, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere for the opposing attack while adding pressure to try to create turnovers.
Schedule
Tri-State women’s lacrosse opens the inaugural schedule on the road as TSU takes on Wittenberg University on March 19. The home opener will occur on March 22, as they host Kenyon College. TSU will take to the road throughout the season with trips to the Pittsburg, Pa. area and western New York. Dallas University and Fontbonne University will travel to TSU to complete the Thunder’s home schedule. TSU’s inaugural season will conclude with a game at rival Adrian College.
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