A 1992 season of near-misses and unfulfilled goals may provide the incentive to spark the 1993 Mary Washington Eagles to new heights. After soaring to Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) regional appearances in '90 and '91, MWC looks to again flourish at the regional level, and eventually hopes to land a first-ever NCAA bid in the near future.
To reach a new level, the Eagles of head coach Dana Soper must learn from tough experiences. After handing Division II Longwood one of the Lancers' two losses (for the season) to open the '92 campaign, MWC lost a 9-8 decision to eventual NCAA Final Four participant Roanoke. Four additional losses by two goals or less, including a 13-12 decision to a strong Salisbury State contingent in the season finale, punctuated a trying season.
Still, Soper found several bright spots who should contribute to a promising future. Speedy forward Cheryl Cole (So./Kennett Square, PA) scored 20goals and added a team-high 11 assists, while Cara Biega Jr./Glastonbury, CT) hopes to overcome an in- jury-plagued '92 in which she managed to score 13 goals. Kim Pandolfi Or.! Georgetown, MA) was a consistent performer, scoring five goals and seven assists. Soper believes that a strong recruiting class can ease the loss of graduated seniors Lisa Peterson and Sarah Perri, who combined for 70 goals in '92, including 45 by second-team All- American Peterson.
In any sport, defense is the keystone for success, and Soper is looking for strong goaltending as well as toughness and consistency from her back line. Three freshmen will battle for goalkeeping duties, part of a solid recruiting class of 12 players with high-school lacrosse experience. Six states along the Eastern seaboard are represented on the freshman roster.
We have reached a point in our program where recruiting females with varsity lacrosse experience is necessary to the growth and development of the program," said Soper. "While we'll continue to look for experienced out-of-state players, I plan on continuing to help the Virginia state public schools with my ser- vices in developmental clinics, seminars and demonstrations to promote the sport of lacrosse."
A highly competitive 1993 schedule includes games against 1992 NCAA Tournament teams Roanoke and Frostburg State, as well as perennial regional power Johns Hopkins. According to Soper, the 1993 season will test a young team comprised mostly of freshmen and sophomores and may serve as a steppingstone for future success.