ROCHESTER, NY -  The RIT women's lacrosse team is excited for a successful 2015 season. Ninth-year head coach Jeff McGuigan has brought in a strong class of newcomers to combine with talented returners to make a run at the Liberty League playoffs.
 
The Tigers ended the 2014 season with five wins overall. With 13 players returning and solid leadership, the Tigers are poised for more success in 2015.
 
"We are coming into this season with a fresh start," said McGuigan. "We have a lot of youth and a good group of returners that are working hard to make this season special."
 
Senior captains Caitlin Conway (Landisville, PA/Hempfield) and Kirsten Francis (Fulton, NY/G. Ray Bodley), along with junior Holly Leone (Centerport, NY/Harborfields) have proven to be strong leaders both on and off the field. They are pushing the team every day to get better and holding each other to high standards.  
 
"We have shown a lot of great leadership so far especially from our returners," said McGuigan. "They are really showing the newcomers how to work hard."
 
Junior attacker Sage Sarkis (Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima) returns after an excellent sophomore year, garnering first team all-conference honors and second team IWLCA All-Empire regional accolades. She led the team in scoring with 64 points on 54 goals and 10 assists, and also grabbed 47 draw controls. Sarkis is currently tied for sixth in career goals at RIT with 103 and eighth with 123 career points. Sarkis set single-game records with 10 goals and 11 points in a 13-12 win over SUNY Potsdam on March 27, 2014.
 
Fellow classmates Nicole Bingo (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) and Mariah Hettel (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena), along with sophomore Sydney DaCosta (New Bedford, MA/Bishop Stang) return on the Tigers attack. Last season, Bingo was third on the team in scoring with 17 points on 11 goals and six assists. Hettel got quality minutes in 13 games, tallying nine points on five goals and four assists. DaCosta started in all 15 games, scoring six goals and adding two helpers.

Junior Marlee Vlassis (Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse Minoa) is looking to make an impact after missing all of last season due to an injury. Vlassis scored 37 points on 24 goals and 13 assists in 2013.
 
Freshmen Brooks Melnyk (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville East), Cassidy Goodwin (Berlin, CT/Berlin), and Sophie Dower (Syracuse, NY/Westhill) will compete for playing right away on the attack. Melnyk played four years of varsity at Williamsville East, while Dower played at Westhill High School.
 
Leone and Corrina Mandell (Corning, NY/Corning East) will anchor the midfield for RIT.  Leone battled back from an injury last season, scoring eight goals and causing seven turnovers. Mandell garnered second team All-Liberty League honors, starting in all 15 games. The junior midfielder scored 49 points on 29 goals and 20 assists in 2014.
 
The Tigers have some youth in the midfield, creating a lot of depth. Freshmen Sammy Ward (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker), Maegan Schmauder (Franklin, MA/Franklin), Kristina Glitch (Rochester, NY/Rush-Henrietta), Amanda Olsen (Glen Mills, PA/Archmere Academy), and Emily Levecchi all have an opportunity to make big contributions right away. Ward was a two-time All-Central New York second team selection for C.W. Baker High School, while Schmauder played four years of varsity at Franklin High School, leading the team to the 2014 Division I East Championship. Levecchi played at Mercy earning All-Greater Rochester honors. Glitch was a standout cross country and track runner and placed third at the NYSPHAA State Championship in 2013. Olsen was a two-time all-state selection at Archmere Academy and is a two-sport athlete, also on the basketball team at RIT.
 
The Tigers return four sophomores to the defense, led by Claire Foggo (Windham, NH/Central Catholic) and Gwen Neuhaus (Woodbridge, VA/Potomac).  Foggo started in 14 of 15 games last season, causing 16 turnovers, the second best on the team. Neuhaus got quality minutes in all 15 games.
 
RIT will look for some grit from newcomers Liz Bova (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee), Kaitlyn Dolan (North Andover, MA/North Andover), and Jordan Guerrieri (Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy) on the defensive end.  Bova played two years of varsity lacrosse at West Genesee, helping to lead her team to the 2014 New York State Championship, while Dolan was a member of the North Andover team that made it to the Massachusetts State Semifinal game. Guerrieri played four years of varsity at Mercy High School with fellow freshman Levecchi.
 
In net, Conway and Elizabeth Hughes (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) are competing every day to get better. Last season. Conway played in 13 games, recorded 116, while leading the team in ground balls. Hughes saw action in seven games in her rookie campaign last year.
 
"We have more depth this year than ever before," said McGuigan. "We are able to compete with each other everyday at practice to get better. We have high expectations for this season and are enjoying the journey along the way."  
 
The Tigers have a very strong nonconference schedule, starting at home on Feb. 28 against SUNY Geneseo. RIT has three home contests before taking off for Orlando, Fla. on spring break to play Western New England and Colby College.
 
Liberty League play will kick off right after the team returns home to open up with Clarkson on March 27 at home. The Tigers will travel to last year's Liberty League champions Rensselaer on April 18, and wrap up conference play at crosstown rival Rochester on April 25.    
 
McGuigan is very optimistic about the 2015 season and stresses all the work it is going to take to reach their goals.
 
"We need to take care of the little things and let the big things take care of themselves."