KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Every season under third-year head coach Jackie Stezzi, the Kutztown University women's lacrosse team has had its win total increase. Now in its third season in the regime, the KU program looks to continue to build upon the success and reach even bigger heights during the 2020 campaign.
 
The Golden Bears finished the 2019 season with a 7-9 overall record, with five of those victories coming in conference play. The five Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) victories are the second most in a season in KU history. KU looks to match the program record of six league wins this year.
 
"I think the success we had last year with our win total is awesome, but we're looking for more and to grow on that," said Stezzi. "I think what really motivates us is that we went 12 games last year without a full-time goalie, which is crazy when you look back and see we still went 6-6. I think the girls have a lot of confidence heading into this year because of what they were able to accomplish last year. I think everyone is really excited to get this year started."
 
Kutztown saw the graduations of several key seniors last year that made their mark on the program and will be difficult shoes to fill, at least right away. Makayla Bowman (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn), Lauren Schmidt (Hanover, Pa./South Western) and Emily Smith (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Hubert Catholic) all capped their careers in Maroon and Gold with 100 points or more, with Bowman (151) and Schmidt (125) ranking in the top-8 in program history. Smith was also top-five in draw controls (199), caused turnovers (88) and groundballs (167) as a jack-of-all-trades type player. Amanda Lehman (York, Pa./West York Area) ranks in the top-10 in groundballs (133) and caused turnovers (58). Jordan Klebe (Bishopville, Md./Stephen Decatur) rounded out the group of seniors.
 
"We will miss this group and everything they did for our program," Stezzi said. "I am grateful to them for leaving a legacy and showing the younger girls how to grow and be successful. That will benefit us this year."
 
There will be a lot of new faces on the new Keystone Field turf this spring, with 13 student-athletes in either their first or second year of experience, 10 of which are freshmen. The Golden Bear captains in senior Destanee Watkins (Emmaus, Pa./Emmaus), along with juniors Cyla Cafferata (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Sachem North) and Devon Fitzpatrick (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) have taken on the leadership role effectively according to Stezzi, and are ready to be the faces of the program.
 
"These three have been around and are just great overall people on and off the field," said Stezzi. "They all bring different qualities to the field and have been leaders for our team, which has a lot of young players this year."
 
Watkins ranks in the top-10 in program history in caused turnovers (77), groundballs (130) and draw controls (77). Fitzpatrick was named to the All-PSAC Third Team as a freshman, and Cafferata has played in all but one game over the last two seasons for KU.
 
Other major contributors back include Senior Rylee Hill (Romansville, Pa./Bishop Shanahan), juniors Taylor Small (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Franklin Delano Roosevelt), Lesley Lane (Jamesburg, N.J./Monroe Township) and Allie McCormick (West Deptford, N.J./West Deptford), and redshirt-sophomore Erin Vaughan Ware (Seaford, N.Y./MacArthur) all bring experience to the field as well.
 
Junior Kaily Crystle (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) and redshirt-sophomore Makenna Warminsky (Fogelsville, Pa./Parkland) are still wet behind the ears in the collegiate game, but are expected to take on bigger roles this season. Former KU women's soccer goalie, Jenna Bracken (Wanaque, N.J./Lakeland Regional), will also join the fold this season to help bolster the midfield.
 
In a large freshmen class, a couple of newcomers that Stezzi is excited about include Brittany Dieterle (Somerdale, N.J./Sparta), Ali Stein (Oceanside, N.Y./Oceanside), Hannah Brewster (Denton, Md./North Caroline), Morgan Hurd (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland), Brooke-Lynn Grim (Abbottstown, Pa./New Oxford) and Jenna Blesson (Sparta, N.J./Lenape Valley Regional), with Blesson taking the reigns as the starting goalie. Other first-year players include Cyrose Conteh (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown), Carson Dillard (Glenwood, Md./Glenelg), Megan Kerr (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) and Marissa Giancola (Cape May, N.J./Lower Cape May Regional).
 
KU was voted sixth in the PSAC East Division Preseason Poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches earlier this month. With the addition of Shepherd University to the conference, the sport of women's lacrosse will feature two divisions for the first time since 2010. Both divisions will consist of seven teams.
 
Kutztown opens its regular season Saturday, Feb. 22, at the University of Bridgeport at 1 p.m. The home-opener for KU is slated for Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 4 p.m., against Caldwell University at Keystone Field.