JMU preseason favorite to defend title

JMU
Coach Kellie Young
2004 record: 7-0, 16-4

The two-time defending conference champions are the preseason favorites to defend their title. JMU will return five starters from a team that advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals last year. Senior midfielder Jessica Brownridge and sophomore midfielder Kelly Berger combined for 78 goals last season and will head the offense. Senior defender Ashlee Dardine, a Tewaaraton Trophy candidate for the National Player of the Year, joined Brownridge as a first team All-CAA selection last season and secures the Dukes’ defense.

The College of William & Mary
Coach Tara Brown
2004 record: 4-3, 10-8

In 2004, the Tribe made its first CAA championship appearance since 1996. The Tribe will return nine starters, including co-captain and three-year starter Morgan Watkins. Watkins earned First Team All-CAA honors last season after leading the team in scoring with 58 points (38 goals, 10 assists). Colleen Dalon will join Watkins in the attack. Last season, Dalon scored 34 goals and had 15 assists, and exploded for 10 points in the Tribe’s two conference tournament games.

George Mason University
Coach Amy Umbach
2004 record: 4-3, 7-10

George Mason advanced to the four-team CAA tournament last year for the 11th-straight season. The Patriots were led by First Team All-CAA and Second Team All-American goalkeeper Meg Dentler, who recorded 224 saves last year. Offensively, the Patriots will look to attacker Kristy Manas, who scored a team-high 24 goals last season. Attackers Tracy Waterson, Jeannine Ohler and Sarah Bryant each scored 21 goals last to complete a balanced Patriots’ attack.

Towson University
Coach Missy Holmes
2004 record: 6-1, 14-4

The Tigers are led by 2004 CAA Coach of the Year Missy Holmes. Towson set a school record with 14 wins last season and earned its first trip to the CAA tournament as a No. 2 seed. The Tigers return eight starters, including 2004 First Team All-CAA selection Becky Trumbo, who scored 45 goals last season. Trumbo scored multiple goals in 13 of 18 games, including a seven-goal performance against Old Dominion University.

Hofstra University
Coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe
2004 record: 3-4, 8-8

Hofstra returns 23 of 36 letter winners and 10 of 12 starters from last season, including the 2004 CAA Defensive Player of the Year Bridget Eder. In her senior season, Eder leads a defense that allowed 9.08 goals per-game last season (No. 18 in nation) and was No. 11 in the nation in caused turnovers.

University of Delaware
Coach Kim Ciarrecca
2004 record: 2-5, 6-10

The Blue Hens return nine starters and will be led by first-year coach Kim Ciarrocca. The Blue Hens return three second-team All-CAA selections in midfielders Erin Edell, Allison Lynch and Jenny Diana. As a freshman, Diana led the team in scoring with 38 goals last year.

Old Dominion University
Coach Sue Stahl
2004 record: 1-6, 5-11

The Monarchs have a big hole to fill after losing Suzanne Wosczyna, Old Dominion’s all-time leading scorer with 240 points. Midfielder Melody Shotwell scored 57 points last season before going down with an ACL injury with four games left.

Drexel University
Coach Anna Maria Vesco
2004 record: 1-6, 10-7

The Dragons were led by underclassmen last season. Sophomore midfielders Emily Hoesch and Kerry Kelly combined for 98 points during their freshman year, and midfielder Colleen Rocks added 37 goals as a sophomore last year.