Dukes ready to take field, CAA crown

Seniors set to lead JMU back to glory

Amy Paterson / senior photographer The women's lacrosse team runs through drills during a preseason practice. The eighth-ranked Dukes begin the season traveling to Yale University.

Going into the season ranked eighth in the nation, the women's lacrosse program is predicted by one player to have one of its greatest seasons in school history.

The Dukes finished last year with a 13-6 record, a Colonial Athletic Association championship and an appearance in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The team will look to get on track with similar success when it opens its 2004 campaign Sunday in New Haven, Conn., against 18th-ranked Yale University.

"Going into this season — particularly the opener — we are looking to set the standards as to what we will bring for the rest of the season," red-shirt senior Kari Pabis said. "We are so excited to see live competition after a long preseason. Although we are ranked higher [than Yale], we have something to prove, as this game will set the tone for the next few months."

The Dukes return nine starters after losing three players last season. A key loss offensively for the squad was midfielder Lisa Staedt ('03), a three-time All-American and two-time CAA Player of the Year.

With Staedt's departure, the team focus will shift this year to balance the power among all 11 individuals on the field, according to coach Kellie Young.

"As a coach, this is the most well-rounded and determined group of athletes I have ever seen," Young said. "[The balance] makes my job a lot easier, and I am very excited to see where we can go and what we can do."

This year, the team will work around key playmakers, senior co-captains midfielder Gail Decker and defender Jess Beard.

Decker, who was named JMU Female Athlete of the Year for 2003, brings the experience of an All-American second team selection. She also led the team last year with 51 goals.

The team will rely on Decker to be the Dukes' primary finisher, with the support of junior attacker Jess Brownridge and sophomore attacker Brooke McKenzie. Junior Carrie Martell and senior Erin Chantler will provide an additional scoring threat at midfield.

Last season's Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Beard, will be looked upon to lead the defense, Young said.

"Jess (Beard) will run our defense, and … the determination she brings will help us to win," Young said. "Talk is talk, and now it is time for us to put our game [defensively] into action."

Young said her newest recruiting class brings speed and offensive strength.

Freshman midfielder Kelly Berger will be looked to for her feisty and steady presence, while freshman attacker Monica Buck will be relied on for her quick shot, Young said.
Freshman attacker Maria Bosica, an All-Metro selection in high school, was touted as JMU'S top freshman recruit. Young said the Dukes will look to utilize Bosica's powerful shooting game.
Bosica said, "I know this weekend will go well because we have been very focused on this game since fall ball, and we are definitely ready to face our competitors [throughout the season]."

Last season, when JMU met Yale, the Dukes were victorious by a score of 14-7.

Pabis believes a win in the season opener against Yale would set a positive tone to the beginning of the season for an experienced and ambitious Dukes squad.

"As seniors, we are out to lead this team to where we should have been last year — and that is a NCAA championship," Pabis said.