SALISBURY, Md. - Over the past four years the
Salisbury University women's lacrosse team has ranked among the
nation's elite. The 2007 Sea Gulls were no different as they broke
school-record after school-record en route to arguably one the
greatest seasons in the program's history.
Salisbury advanced to the national championship game for only
the second time in school history where they finished as runner-up
to Franklin & Marshall. The Sea Gulls' appearance in the final
four was the third in the past four years and only the fourth time
SU had made it to the round of four. SU in the past three years has
finished its season in the national title game twice (2005, '07).
"It was a great year overall. It's hard to complain when you
play for the national title," said SU coach Jim
Nestor. "After graduating 13 players from last year's team
we weren't sure what to expect with the players we had, but it's
safe to say we did exceed expectations."
After winning the program's fifth straight Capital Athletic
Conference title, Salisbury hosted its fifth consecutive NCAA
regional where it advanced to the national semifinals with wins
over Washington and Lee and Colorado College.
The Sea Gulls finished with a 21-2 record, a No. 2 ranking in
the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association poll and
five single-season team records.
Salisbury set the record for wins in a season (21), total games
played (23), most goals scored (376), most assists (195) and total
points (571). SU also tied the school record for fewest goals
allowed in a game with its 22-0 shutout win over Marymount (Va.) on
March 14.
SU finished its season as the third ranked scoring offense in
the country with a 16.36 goals per game average, the eighth ranked
scoring defense with a 6.83 goals per game average and the third
ranked scoring margin at 9.52 goals.
In addition to the team's success, Salisbury received individual
accolades not only on the conference level but the national level
as well. The Sea Gulls placed five on the All-CAC team, six on the
All-Chesapeake Region team and four on the All-American squad.
Junior Sue Ackermann was the leader for
Salisbury all season long as she was name CAC Player of the Year as
well as a first-team selection to the All-CAC, All-Chesapeake
Region and All-American team. Ackermann posted one of the greatest
single-season efforts in school history as she became the first
player in six years to reach the century mark for points in a
season.
"She follows right in line of her sister [Linda Ackermann,
2002-05] as far as being a great leader on and off the field," said
Nestor. "She is a student of the game and a very unselfish player."
The Sykesville, Md. native registered 119 points on 51 goals and
68 assists. Her total points and assists is the second highest
single-season total in school history in those respected categories
while her season goal total is the sixth best mark from a Sea Gull.
With one season of eligibility left, Ackermann already ranks
third in school history in career assists (79), sixth in career
points (169) and 13th in career goals (90). Ackermann also became
the first Salisbury women's lacrosse player to be added to the
Tewaarton Award watch list which is awarded the top lacrosse player
in country in all divisions.
Seniors Stephanie Shores and Natalie
Degele were not to be outdone by Ackermann as both
attackers had a season to remember. Shores was named second-team
All-CAC, first-team All-Chesapeake Region and third-team
All-American while Degele earned second-team All-Chesapeake Region
honors.
Shores finished with a team-high 59 goals which is the fifth
highest single-season total in school history and most goals in a
season since 2001. She also finished with the 10th best
single-season point total with 75 and rounded out her career ranked
21st on the career goal list (78). Shores was named to the South
roster in the annual North-South All-Start game where she netted
one goal.
Degele quietly ranked second on the team in total points,
assists and third on the team goals. Her 47 goals is the 10th best
single-season total, her 35 assists is the eighth best
single-season total and her 82 points is the seventh highest
single-season total in school history. Degele finished her career
ranked 11th all-time as a Sea Gull in career assists (50) and 16th
in career points (114).
"It was nice to see these two seniors [Shores and Degele] have
such a great year," said Nestor. "What they accomplished goes to
show their hard work."
Fellow seniors, Katie Simmons and Ani
Khatchatoorian, also received individual recognition for
the season.
Simmons was a first team selection to the All-CAC,
All-Chesapeake Region and All-American team. She was the most
potent goal scorer from the midfield as she led midfielders in
goals and points with 35 and 44 each, respectively. Simmons also
ranked second on the team in caused turnovers with 28. The Silver
Spring, Md. native joined shores on the South roster as she had an
All-Star game high two points on a goal and assist. Simmons' 82
career goals is the 16th highest total in school history.
Khatchatoorian earned a place on the second-team All-CAC and
first-team All-Chesapeake Region at midfield as she scored 24 goals
and added three assists. Her career total of 71 goals ranks her
25th on Salisbury all-time career goal list. She also caused 17
turnovers and corralled 26 groundballs.
Kelly Phillips joined Ackermann and Simmons as
a first-team member on the All-CAC, All-Chesapeake Region and
All-American team. The junior defender caused 15 turnovers, scooped
up 39 ground balls and controlled 27 draw controls. Phillips also
garnered Salisbury's second straight end of the year award as she
was named Division III Defender of the Year. Last season, Kate
Scott was named Attacker of the Year.
This is the ninth time in the past 11 years Salisbury has had
someone on the All-American team and third straight year the Sea
Gulls have had at least one first-team selection.
The Sea Gulls began the season ranked No. 7 in the IWLCA poll
but quickly rose to the No. 3 position after they won their first
10 games. In that 10-game win streak, Salisbury beat the likes of
then No. 2 Amherst, Colorado College and No. 4 Middlebury.
SU suffered its first set back of the season on March 31 in
Lancaster, Pa. as they fell, 8-7, to No. 5 Franklin & Marshall.
The Diplomats held Salisbury to a season low seven goals but SU
bounced back with a 15-5 win over No. 18 Ursinus.
Losses around the nation placed Salisbury No. 2 in the IWLCA
poll behind only F&M. The Sea Gulls rounded out the
regular-season on a five-game win streak with wins over St. Mary's
(Md.), No. 18 Mary Washington and most notably No. 5 The College of
New Jersey.
The Sea Gulls breezed through the CAC tournament where they
successfully defended their title for the third straight year which
earned themselves home field advantage in the NCAA Regionals.
Game of the Year
Salisbury had its share of dramatic wins this season. The Sea
Gulls held Middlebury scoreless over the final nine minutes of the
game to preserve an 11-10 win on March 27 and then again took down
the Panthers, 8-7 in the NCAA Division III semifinals, to advance
to the national championship game with a goal in the waning seconds
but the game of the year was Salisbury's 13-12 win over The College
of New Jersey on April 14.
"It was nice to get the monkey off our backs once again," said
Nestor. "Middlebury was a very good team each time we faced them
but TCNJ has been our nemesis and it was such a thrilling victory."
The Sea Gulls trailed by three, 12-9, with just over nine
minutes left in the game but rallied to score the final four goals
of the game to defeat the Lions for only the second time in school
history, first time since March 15, 2005.
Robyn Bishop tied the game at 12 with 1:26 left
to set up the Degele game-winner. Degele drew a foul with
44-seconds left in the game to give her a free position shot on
goal and a chance to win the game. Degele put home the game-winner
with 42 seconds left to lift SU to the one goal win. Salisbury won
the ensuing draw and ran out the clock.
A Look Ahead to Next Year
Salisbury will once again be the favorite to win the Capital
Athletic Conference as its returns the core of its team. Ackermann
is the lone starter returning on attack, but rising senior
Alexis Morrell and sophomore-to-be Beth
Rhodey played valuable minutes. Morrell and Rhodey
combined to score 40 goals and dish out 17 assists; the highest
totals among non-starters on attack.
The midfield will be one of the strengths of the team.
Senior-to-be Jessica Liston will be joined by
rising junior Jessica Chmielewski to lead the
charge. Liston will be the leading returning goal scorer from the
midfield after she netted 23 goals. Chmielewski added 22 of her own
goals and led the team in caused turnovers with 29.
Rising junior Robyn Bishop, who spearheaded the
squad to a top 15 ranking in draw controls, will return with her
team-high 59 draw controls and 44 ground balls.
Phillips will anchor the defensive unit that returns almost
intact. Sophomores-to-be Maddie Goetz and
Jess Glazer each started at least nine games and
with the players coming in, Nestor believes the unit should be a
strong point.
Nestor will have three goalies with experience to choose from
next year. Junior-to-be Sonja Stuart made the
final five starts of the season and compiled a goals against
average just over eight a game (8.35), rising sophomore
Natalie Pappas started 14 games on the year and
posted a 6.51 goals against average and rising sophomore
Erin Will started the first four games of the year
and had a 5.13 goals against average.
"Once again we lose a lot of talented players," said Nestor. "We
need to replace two valuable seniors at the midfield and attack,
but we had a lot of players get valuable minutes this season."
The Sea Gulls will take a 32-game regular season home winning
streak into 2008 as they will aim for the NCAA Division III
national championship.
