The Mary Washington College women's lacrosse team experienced many firsts in 1997, in route to an 11-5 record, tied for the best in school history. The Eagles won their first-ever Capital Athletic Conference Championship, downing Salisbury State University, 14- 9, at Salisbury in the last game of the year. CAC Coach of the Year Dana Hall's squad also set the school season scoring mark with 200 goals, breaking the previous high of 185, set in 1980. The Eagles also set the single-game scoring record, pouring in 24 goals against a quality opponent - CAC rival Goucher College - who had advanced to the NCAA Tournament the year before. The team was ranked as high as seventh in the nation and scored nine goals in a loss to the College of New Jersey, which was the most goals CNJ had allowed in over three years.
In addition to the team accolades, MWC had many individual accomplishments in 1997. Charlotte Cockrell, who will be one of six quality seniors that Coach Hall will have to replace in 1998, was named second-team All-American by the USWIA after posting 51 goals and 19 assists in route to becoming the school's second- highest scorer ever (171 points). Cockrell was also named first team all-region, first team all-state, and first team all-CAC. Freshman Sara Andersen, who finished second on the team in scoring with 25 goals and 18 assists, was named the first-ever CAC Rookie of the Year by league coaches for her overall game, which included a team-leading 108 ground balls and 63 draw controls. She was named second team all-region, first team all- state, and second team all-CAC.
Others receiving post- season awards was senior Liza Barber (first team all-CAC, second team all-region, second team all- state), who joined the school's career top-ten scoring list with 114 career points; senior defender Inga Fredland (first team all-CAC, first team all-state, second team all-region), and midfielder Melissa Ballance, who had 12 goals, nine assists, and 74 ground ball controls (first team All-CAC, first team all-state, second team all-region).
In addition to Cockrell, Barber, and Fredland, the Eagles will need to replace departed seniors Amy Walters, Krisitie Fasanaro, and goalie Nicole Matthews, who finishes her career with the most saves in MWC history. Returning attack players include sophomore Andersen and classmates Jamie Wissmann (24 goals, 15 assists, school-record six assists against Goucher in '97), Lauren Nichols (eleven goals, seven assists), and Janet Emery (eight goals, five assists a year ago). Others returning at attack are junior Whitney Ziskal, seniors Kelly Sutton and Dabney Boye (eight goals in '97), and sophomores Melanie Hayes and Liz Tucker.
Ballance leads the strong returning group of defend- ers that includes senior Alexis Kingham (45 ground ball controls in '97) and fellow junior Aimee Seward (50 ground ball controls). Others returning include junior Claire Wagner, and sophomores Beth Schmidt and Brandy Han.
The competition for goalie is wide open in 1998, with freshmen Katie Herzog and Alexandra Racanelli vying for the starting position.
With a talented veteran cast, the Eagles will still rely on another top recruiting year to help fill the holes left by the departing group of seniors. If the newcomers can make an impact, the Eagles, with one of the top schedules in the nation, hope to be in contention for one of 12 NCAA Tournament bids in '98.