FROSTBURG, Md. - Entering her second season as head coach of the Frostburg State University women’s lacrosse program, Megan Foy has all the pieces in place for a highly successful season in 2013. The Bobcats return not only their top four scorers from a year ago, but 10 of their top 11 point scorers, both goalkeepers and their top three defenders.

FSU also returns nine seniors that comprise a majority of this year’s roster. All nine of the seniors have stepped up in their own way to become leaders and they are determined to be successful in their final season in a Bobcat uniform.

“The group of nine seniors decided they wanted to leave their own mark on the program in their final season,” said Foy. “The younger players have really bought in and they want to be successful for this year’s seniors.”

Seniors
The coaching staff is expecting big things from this year’s senior class, even though some have switched positions heading into their final season.

Taylor Cassatt will play a big role in the success of this year’s midfield and is poised for a big year. She started 15 games and finished fifth on the team with 27 points, behind 19 goals and eight assists.

Katelyn Kesecker has done a phenomenal job in transition throughout the preseason. She finished second in scoring (34 pts.) with 24 goals and 10 assists.

Cassatt and Kesecker should provide a nice one-two punch in the midfield as both are good at causing turnovers and are very aggressive in transition.

Two-year starter Chelsea Feeney will take on a slightly new role this spring as she will be more heavily involved with the draw control. She won 13 draws last season and 18 as a sophomore in 2011. She tied for third in scoring (29 pts.), but led the team with 18 assists a year ago.

Jenny Davis will hold down the defense again this year and will again serve as the “voice” of the back line. She appeared in 15 games last spring with 12 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers.

Megan Johnson returns to claim a starting spot on defense this year after starting 29 games over the past two seasons. Last spring, she collected 11 ground balls caused five turnovers.

Goalkeeper Naomi Swann had a breakout season last spring as she started 15 games in net and registered 122 saves. She is the projected starter heading into the season opener and the coaching staff is looking for another big year from her.

Rachel Dwyer and Myra Derbyshire will work in tandem this spring to produce points for FSU as both are very talented at assisting and finishing around the cage. Last season, Dwyer registered five points, three goals and two assists, while Derbyshire scored three times. They combined to appear in 22 games with nine starts.

Allie Welsh is an international student that will be with the Bobcat lacrosse program for just the 2013 season. From Cheshire, England, Welsh is a very energetic player that will bring a different style of lacrosse to the team.

Juniors
This year’s junior class has just four members, but brings a great deal of talent to the roster. The four ladies combined to start in 45 games last spring and the foursome returns two of the team’s top scorers, a two-year starter on defense and a goalkeeper with over 200 saves in two seasons.

Captain Karoline Miller played in eight games and stopped 37 shots in 212 minutes of action. As a freshman, Miller started 16 games in net and registered 171 saves. She is an extremely harder worker and always has a positive attitude.

Captains Karoline Miller & Malory Brunett

Captain Malory Brunett is a two-time All-CAC selection and has become one of the top midfielders in the league. She is a leader on the field through example and was the only player on the roster to start all 16 games a year ago. Brunett led the Bobcats in goals (43) and points (52) and has registered a point in 32 of 33 career games.

Cianna Lawrence returns to the defense having started 32 of 33 games over her first two years with the Bobcat program. She is good at causing turnovers and regaining possession. Last spring, she finished fourth in ground balls (21) and fifth in caused turnovers (10).

Megan White has successfully made the transition from attack to midfield during the preseason. A very team oriented player, White is good at finishing around the goal and double teaming the opponent’s top players. She finished third on the team in scoring (29 pts.) and was tied for second with 24 goals.

Sophomores
The Frostburg sophomore group consists of five players that made an immediate impact on the Bobcat lineup last spring. They appeared in a combined 60 games and made 35 starts in their first year of collegiate lacrosse.

Ellie Garner made nine starts on defense last season but transitioned to the midfield during the preseason. She is a very spirited and aggressive player that will see increased minutes on the draw control. She scooped up six ground balls, caused four turnovers and had nine draw controls in 2012.

Attack Emily Walker has adapted well to the college game and the coaching staff believes she has come into her own offensively so far this preseason. She appeared in 12 games, with two starts, and scored one goal with one assist.

Jessica Norris has made a big transition from defense to attack this spring. She is a smart player with great speed and appeared in five games a year ago.

Jessica Jones is a very positive and upbeat midfielder, that never slacks off and the coaching staff says she helps with team morale. Jones started 13 games a year ago with five goals and one assist.

Kaitlyn Dudley is arguably the most experienced sophomore after starting 11 games last spring. She is great at finishing her shots and is a very technically skilled and sound player with a team first attitude. She totaled 17 points behind 13 goals and four assists as a freshman.

Freshmen
A group of four first-year players will all battle for playing time this season, despite the returning talent above them.

Marissa Howk is a midfielder that will help with the draw control this season. She is a very scrappy, aggressive player that possesses good speed.

Heather Lowe is a freshman keeper that should battle both Swann and Miller for playing time. She is a technically skilled player that came from a great high school program at Winters Mill.

Natalie Hughes is a solid transition player that will compete for playing time at attack this spring. She is a hard and determined worker that is very upbeat.

Brooke Dolan will fight for time on defense in her first year. Aiding in her ability to see early action is her eagerness to learn and receptiveness to the coaching staff and teammates.

Schedule
The Frostburg State lacrosse spring schedule features four preseason ranked teams and all four of those squads advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season.

Leading the charge as one of the Bobcats toughest opponents will be second ranked Salisbury (22-1) that advanced to the NCAA Title Game a year ago. York (Pa.) enters 2013 ranked ninth according to the IWLCA Preseason Division III poll after advancing to the NCAA Tournament and finishing with a record of 14-5.

Frostburg opens the season on Feb. 26, with a road contest against 11th ranked Catholic (16-6). The Bobcats then travel to Bridgewater (6-10) on Mar. 2, and will open their home slate on Mar. 6, when they host Goucher (5-10) at 4:00 pm.

FSU opens CAC action on Mar. 17 when it hosts Wesley (8-9) at noon and travels to 13th ranked Mary Washington (14-5) on Mar. 23. The Eagles round out the four Bobcat opponents that advanced to the NCAA Tournament last spring.