By: Owen Lukens, Athletic Communication
The Bald Eagles will open the season by traveling to Ashland, Ohio to take on Ashland University in a 4 p.m. non-conference game at Ferguson Field.
Lock Haven will follow up with its home-opener on Saturday, March 2 when it welcomes non-conference foe Daemen at 2 p.m. to Charlotte E. Smith Field.
Setting the stage:
Last season, Lock Haven finished fifth in the PSAC West with a 6-11 overall record and 4-8 mark in conference play. In 2023, the Bald Eagles earned a victory over national-ranked Mercyhurst, after downing the No. 22 Lakers at home.
Back on Feb. 1, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll selected the Bald Eagles to finish fifth in the Western Conference. The top-three schools clinch a berth to the PSAC Postseason Tournament and the Bald Eagles are primed to make a run after just missing the playoffs in 2023.
Seton Hill earned four of seven first-place votes to earn preseason favorites in the East, while IUP comes in behind them after earning three first-place votes. Slippery Rock and Mercyhurst are predicted third and fourth, with Lock Haven coming in right behind them at No. 5. Gannon and Edinboro round out the East as the six and seven teams, respectively.
In the Eastern Division, powerhouse West Chester received six of seven first-place votes to earn the top spot, while East Stroudsburg was picked second after earning one first-place vote. Kutztown and Millersville round out the top-four, while Bloomsburg, Shepherd and Shippensburg are slated five through seven.
Year Nine for Head Coach Lindsey Reese:
Leading the charge for the Bald Eagles in her ninth year at the helm is women's lacrosse head coach
Lindsay Reese. Reese, who surpassed the 50-win milestone in 2022 has led the Bald Eagles to a winning record in seven of her nine seasons. A Lock Haven graduate in 2007, Reese led the Bald Eagles to the NCAA final four twice ('05 & '07) as a player.
Returning alongside Reese is seventh year assistant coach Lindsey Caprio '15. No stranger to the Bald Eagle women's lacrosse program, Caprio was a four-year starter for Lock Haven from 2011-14, where she led The Haven to a pair of PSAC tournament titles and the 2014 NCAA DII national championship game.
Returning for More:
On offense, the Bald Eagles return four-year starter and the team-leader in goals
Abby Katrinak. Katrinak netted 38 goals in 2023, which finished just outside the top-10 in the PSAC.
Gabby Gunnip (34) and
Josey Shaffer (30) also return after scoring 30-plus goals last season.
Emma Williams also returns after leading the team in assists (15), while Shaffer led the program with 56 draw controls.
Lock Haven graduated three starters on defense, but return
Kelsey Schultz, who started 10 games at defender as a junior.
Maddy Lapiana also returns and brings significant experience to the back line.
Dana Mirigliano made 16 starts in net in 2023, where she secured 134 saves and six goalkeeper victories.
2023 Stat Leaders:
2023 Statistics
Goals: Abby Katrinak (38)
Shots: Abby Katrinak (75)
Shots on Goal: Abby Katrinak (56)
Game-Winning Goals: Abby Katrinak (2)
Ground Balls: Dana Mirigliano (44)
Caused Turnovers: Elizabeth Newman (20)
Draw Controls: Josey Shaffer (56)
Goalkeeping
Goals-Against Average: Dana Miriglano (12.60)
Saves: Dana Mirigliano (134)
Save Percentage: Dana Mirigliano (.407)
Wins: Dana Mirigliano (6)
Newcomers:
The Bald Eagles welcomed five athletes to the program this season as part of a dynamic recruiting class.
The class features two attackers and three defenders from Pennsylvania.
Newcomers: Riley Jackson (Attacker, York, Pa./York Suburban),
Makayla Kelly (Attacker, Kennett Square, Pa./Kennett),
Megan Weidner (Defender, Erie, Pa./McDowell),
Julia Bradley (Defender, York, Pa./Red Lion) and
Taylor Desko (Defender, Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe).
To view the 2024 Lock Haven women's lacrosse roster, click
here.
The Road Ahead:
The Bald Eagles' home-opener is scheduled for Saturday, March 2 at 2 p.m. when they welcome non-conference opponent Daemen to Charlotte E. Smith Field.
The Haven remains at home for a Wednesday (March 6) non-conference clash against Wilmington, before hitting the road that Saturday (March 9) at noon to visit D'Youville.
The final tune-up before opening conference play will be on the road at Frostburg State at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 15.
The Bald Eagles open PSAC West action on Wednesday, March 20 at 2 p.m. when they host Mercyhurst.
In all, the Bald Eagles will host eight games at their home field Charlotte E. Smith Field, where they saw the bulk of success last season with a 5-3 record.
The Bald Eagles will pay tribute to their seniors on Saturday (April 27) at noon when they host Edinboro at Charlotte E. Smith Field.
