Ohio Wesleyan University | Battling Bishop Athletics

2009 Season Preview

The Ohio Wesleyan women’s lacrosse team will have a new look, both figuratively and literally, in 2009.

In addition to a new face on the sidelines in head coach Julie Duffy, the Battling Bishops must fill the shoes of the most successful class in Ohio Wesleyan women’s lacrosse history, a group which won 45 games, brought home the school’s first 2 North Coast Athletic Conference championships, and made Ohio Wesleyan’s first 2 NCAA Division III tournament appearances during its 4 years. That group includes 4 of last year’s top 5 scorers, as well as a starting goalkeeper who played all but 5 minutes of her collegiate career.

Duffy will look to her 6 returning starters to continue the Bishops’ recent success, contend for the NCAC title, and return to the NCAA Division III playoffs.

“We graduated some key players, but we have some great leadership returning,” Duffy said. “Our juniors are stepping into big roles this season. They are very capable of taking on this challenge.”

[ Hannah Mudge ] Ohio Wesleyan returns its leading scorer from last year in senior Hannah Mudge (Baltimore, Md./St. Paul's School). Mudge compiled a team-high 47 points last year, tying for 10th place in the NCAC in points per game, and was a second-team all-conference selection. This season, Mudge moves from the attack line to shore up the Bishop attacking midfield.

Joining Mudge in the attacking midfield will be junior Jessica Copeland (Ligonier, Pa./Foxcroft (Va.)), who had 10 points as a starting attacker in 2008; junior Haleigh Rohr (Nelson, N.H./Northfield Mt. Hermon (Mass.)), who compiled 12 goals as a part-time starter last year; junior Abbey Miller (Woolwich, Maine/Morse), who totaled 11 points last season; and sophomore Marlowe Mavian (Columbus/Wellington), a transfer from William Smith.

Senior Tara Porter (North Quincy, Mass./Berkshire School) and junior Elizabeth Lambert (Alexandria, Va.) return at attack. They will be joined by freshman Hannah Ehrlich (Colorado Springs, Colo./Palmer), an all-area pick in high school; and freshman Lena Knofler (Portland, Ore./St. Mary's Academy).

Junior Sarah Marous (Bexley) and sophomore Sam Leeman (New Albany) also return in the midfield, and will be joined by freshman Addie Bishop (Grand Rapids/Notre Dame Academy), Kelsey Countryman (Fenton, Mo./Rockwood Summit) and Leanne Williams (Franklinton, N.C./Stow-Munroe Falls (Ohio)).

[ Lauren Rogers ] The Bishops return 3 starters on defense in juniors Lauren Rogers (Worthington/Thomas Worthington), Laura Bartholomae (Chicago, Ill./Shaker Heights (Ohio)), and Dani Beauford (Baltimore, Md./Loch Raven). Rogers led the NCAC in ground balls last season, picking up an average of 3.07 per game, while Bartholomae ranked third with 2.36 ground balls per game.

“They will be the key to our defense,” Duffy said. “Their experience and knowledge of the game will be crucial in leading this team.”

Sophomore Erin Fleck (Columbus/Bishop Watterson) also returns, and freshmen Patty Dansereau (Andover, N.H./Proctor Academy), Kat Enders (Lake Oswego, Ore./St. Mary's Academy), and Natalie Fisher (St. Louis, Mo./Ursuline Academy) will contribute as well. Enders and Fisher were all-state choices in high school.

Junior Nat D’Antonio (White Hall, Md./St. Paul's School), who saw action in one game last season, will compete with freshmen Lauren Figy (Westfield, Mass.), Maddie Mauk (New Canaan, Conn.), and Liz Searfos (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) for the starting goalkeeper spot. Figy and Searfos were all-region choices in high school.

“It’s a coach’s dream to have two goalkeepers — let alone four — who are capable of being the starter,” Duffy said. “They have so many different strengths, and all four will be pushing each other this season.”

Ohio Wesleyan’s season opens with a Florida trip to face Fitchburg State, Stevenson and Bowdoin. The NCAC schedule opens against Allegheny on March 28. Contests against Claremon-Mudd-Scripps, another 2008 NCAA Division III playoff team, Notre Dame and St. Vincent, as well as a weekend trip to New York to visit Hartwick and Morrisville State, highlight the remainder of the non-conference schedule, while games against 2007 champion Wooster and traditional rivals Denison and Kenyon spice the conference slate.

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