KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's lacrosse team started 2-0 on the new Keystone Field turf in 2020 before the season was cut short. KU is excited to not only open its 2021 campaign back at home, but just to be able to play a season this year.
 
Head coach Jackie Stezzi graduated three seniors from last year's roster, so she will have plenty of experience, along with another injection of youth, heading into this season.
 
"The fact that we are able to play at all this year makes everyone around our program happy," said Stezzi. "Obviously having to lose a majority of last season was tough on everyone. We're excited to be able to get back together and continue the momentum we had from last year. We were undefeated on our home turf and were just about to start conference play. Everyone is motivated and ready to get started."
 
The Golden Bears won both of their home contests last season, 22-12 against Caldwell on Feb. 26, and 14-13 over Jefferson two days later. This season, Kutztown's first two games are at Keystone Field, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and home-opener on Wednesday, March 10, against Shepherd, followed by a non-conference matchup with Georgian Court on Saturday, March 13, for senior day.
 
This season the PSAC Women's Lacrosse league features two divisions with both consisting of seven teams. Each team plays the six other teams in the division twice, home and away. The East consists of Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg, KU, Millersville, Shepherd, Shippensburg and West Chester.
 
In the PSAC Preseason Poll, the Maroon and Gold were selected sixth. West Chester was first, receiving four of the seven possible first-place votes. East Stroudsburg received three of the seven possible first-place votes and was picked second. Bloomsburg, Millersville and Shippensburg were ranked three-through-five. Shepherd followed Kutztown to round out the division.
 
"It is definitely going to be a tough schedule this season," Stezzi said. "The PSAC is always known to be one of the best conferences in Division II, and that isn't different this year. The East Division is especially tough so we'll need to be sharp every game."
 
Outside of the shortened season in 2020, the women's lacrosse program under Stezzi, the fourth-year head coach, has had its win total increase. The Golden Bears finished the 2019 season with a 7-9 overall record, with five of those victories coming in conference play. The five PSAC victories are the second most in a season in KU history.
 
Stezzi will have a bigger group of seniors this season, eight make up the class. Devon Fitzpatrick (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee), Cyla Cafferata (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Sachem North), Lesley Lane (Jamesburg, N.J./Monroe Township), Taylor Small (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Franklin Delano Roosevelt), Kaily Crystle (Springfield, Pa./Springfield), Allie McCormick (West Deptford, N.J./West Deptford), Makenna Warminsky (Fogelsville, Pa./Parkland) and Erin Vaughan Ware (Seaford, N.Y./MacArthur) arrived at Kutztown the same year that Stezzi did, so they are a special group to the head coach.
 
"They're class is special because we came in together," said Stezzi. "They went through the change of a new regime and embraced me as their new coach. They hold a special place in my heart and I'm proud of all that they have accomplished here as student-athletes."
 
Fitzpatrick, a former All-PSAC member, Cafferata and Lane were named team captains. They bring talent and leadership into the fold for the Golden Bears.
 
ATTACK
 
Cafferata, Lane and Vaughan Ware bring a scoring punch to the team as the trio combined for 22 goals last season.
 
According to Stezzi, sophomores Morgan Hurd (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) and Hannah Brewster (Denton, Md./North Caroline) will be great contributors to the offense, along with junior Peyton Shima (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion), who transferred in last season. Hurd was fourth on the team with nine goals and was second in points (15).
 
Sophomores Megan Kerr (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) and Marissa Giancola (Cape May, N.J./Lower Cape May Regional) and freshman Kelly Askins (Galloway, N.J./Absegami) round out the attacking unit.
 
MIDFIELD
 
Fitzpatrick is the ultra-competitor in the eyes of Stezzi. She came to KU as a defender and has also played goalie in her career. She finished with six goals last season.
 
McCormick is another veteran in the middle of the field. She has had each of the last two seasons cut short, one due to injury and another a pandemic. But she appeared in all 17 games her freshman year and all five KU played last season.
 
Sophomore Cyrose Conteh (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) burst onto the scene as a freshman last year and was tied for the team lead in scoring with 11 goals. Classmate Carson Dillard (Glenwood, Md./Glenelg), along with four freshmen: Emma Meakim (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland), Shannon Lake (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford), Robin Spector (Northfield, N.J./Mainland Regional) and Alexis Sigillo (Valley Cottage, N.Y./Nyack) make up the rest of the group, one which features the most depth.
 
DEFENSE
 
The position group with the most experience may be at the back end of the field.
 
Three seniors are in the running to start on defense. Small, Crystle and Warminsky all have multiple games started under their belts.
 
Sophomore Brooke-Lynn Grim (Abbottstown, Pa./New Oxford) will also be relied upon to contribute, as she started all five games last season.
 
Freshmen Maddie Anemone and Sydnie Bisesi (Denton, Md./North Caroline) round out the group.
 
GOALIE
 
Sophomore Jenna Blesson (Sparta, N.J./Lenape Valley Regional) is the number one heading into the season. She started all five contests a year ago and finished with 49 saves. Freshman Courtney Gallagher (Montrose, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) can still have her number called at any given time and will be looked upon to play.