Pitarresi: Hamilton women will be tough again

The Hamilton College women’s lacrosse team lost some important players off its 2008 NCAA Division III national championship squad.

 

The Continentals still will be very good this year.

 

Another championship? Who knows? You have to be good to win a national title, and a little lucky, too.

 

One thing is for sure. The Continentals aren’t going to sneak up on anyone. Everyone knows they are very good, and everyone will be as prepared as possible for them. But then, they were last year, at least after the Continentals’ early season, one-goal loss to perennial power Franklin & Marshall. They put everyone on notice right then.

 

This team will miss the fast and talented Nicole Tetreault, defenders Katie White and Tara Eckberg, and “The General,” sparkplug midfielder Jen McGowan. However, there is plenty of talent left, starting with All-American attack Kaillie Briscoe, who can control the offense pace against most teams with her stick skills and savvy. Midfielder Liz Rave is big – we hesitate to say that when talking about women – and fast and capable of being a one-woman clearing machine, goalie Kate Fowler is outstanding, and sophomore midfielder Sarah Bray is a speed demon.

 

Once the Continentals get middie Kate Marek back from a concussion, they will be formidable.

 

Another title? Don’t even think about it yet, but this team will have an exciting run this spring.