WILKES-BARRE, PA (February 15, 2020) – The King's College women's lacrosse team gets its season underway next Wednesday afternoon on the road at Gwynedd Mercy University, but the Monarchs have been looking day to day since getting preseason going back in January.
The Monarchs were picked to finish No. 5 in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom Preseason Coaches Poll, but have qualified for the MAC Freedom playoffs in each of the last five seasons and each of the three years under fourth-season head coach Ashley Stevens. King's will have to contend with newcomer Stevens Institute of Technology, which was picked to finish second in the preseason poll, but the Monarchs look to have more depth while graduating just one player off last year's team.
King's played a difficult schedule in 2019, finishing 6-13 overall and 3-4 in the MAC Freedom, but the squad returns looking to improve on that win total while sending its three senior captains off with yet another MAC Freedom playoff appearance. Senior defenders
Mia Dardanelli,
Jennifer Smalley and All-MAC Freedom First Teamer
Kelly Pierce will be the key cogs to a defensive unit that returns everyone and should be a strength of the squad.
"We didn't graduate anyone really and added some talented newcomers to the squad," said Dardanelli. "They're really making things competitive, pushing our upperclassmen and giving us great depth. Defensively, we feel comfortable next to each other having started alongside one another for three years."
The offensive unit was one of the better groups in the MAC Freedom last season, thanks to a breakout year from now-sophomore captain
Jen O'Connor. O'Connor posted a team-high 78 points as a freshman, a record for a player in her first season at King's, while adding team-highs of 51 goals and 27 assists. Look for O'Connor to have a larger leadership role in 2020.
"I'm looking to do what my team for me last year when I was a freshman, just making them feel like not a freshman. Just letting them know what we expect from all levels and I think that really helps this team." Pierce was also quick to mention that leading by example is important to this year's squad. "I think leading by example is a big part of this team, the four captains try to step up, show the younger players what's right, talking all the time, doing the little stuff and if we bring that level of detail into games it'll go really well."
When asked about goals this year, Pierce was quick to return to the message that the details in all aspects will be the difference. "In the short term, the little things in practice are going to lead us to success, being the first to fight for position or a loose ball," said Pierce. "Doing that now will help us hopefully get to where we want to go late in the year, which is into the MAC Freedom playoffs."
Now a look at the squad by position.
ATTACK
King's returns all but eight goals off last year's attack group that score 192 tallies on the year, led again by the 51 from O'Connor. The depth of the unit was on display last season, as the Monarchs had five players in double digits in goals and expect that number to increase in 2020.
King's will lean on a strong junior class in the attack, as All-MAC Freedom Honorable Mention
Emma Lehman posted the second-most goals on the year with 34 tallies while adding six free position goals. Lehman is a dynamic athlete that can score with both hands, and is one of the best dodgers on the team. Look for another big season out of the junior.
Also, on attack junior
Kylie McCarthy returns after posting 15 goals as a freshman and 17 as a sophomore in 2019. McCarthy is one of the fastest players on the team, and has great vision as she posted 14 assists to third on the squad in helpers. McCarthy will be another key player offensively for the Monarchs.
Sophomore
Natasha Koslop is back this year after having a great start to her freshman season before suffering an injury mid-year to cut her first campaign short. Koslop has one of the best shots on the team, as she posted nine goals as a first-year player in 2019 and when she's on can be one of the most effective offensive players on the team.
Fellow sophomore
Bailey Jordan started all 19 games last year on attack, and potted eight goals and dished out three assists. Jordan is one of the best players at playing behind the net and rolls the cage well as well. Steady contributors both, Jordan and Koslop look to be important members of the attack this year.
Sophomore
Bethany Cabrera is also back after a solid freshman year, which didn't produce any goals but did see her gain valuable experience. Cabrera is one of the hardest workers on the team, and has improved immensely over the last two years. Look for her to continue to carve out a role offensively, looking to tally her first career goal in 2020.
The freshman group on attack has a pair of talented newcomers, both of which should get a ton of time immediately. Schencksville, PA native
Jess Bahnick has a calm confidence to her game, and could be one of the more well-rounded attackers on the squad. She can play anywhere on offense, as her left-handed game should translate well to the collegiate level.
Fellow newcomer
Morgan Tabel from Cortland, NY also is a freshman with a lot of game, as she has great hands and is very strong at feeding from behind the net. Tabel also is great in front of the net, as her height and reach will allow her to use her steady hands and heavy shot in tight.
MIDFIELD
The Monarchs midfield is possibly one of the most talented groups in the MAC Freedom, but the depth in the middle of the field will be a little lighter than other positions on the squad. Look for some attack players, mainly McCarthy and Lehman, to drop back into the midfield at times to help what should be a strong group.
The midfield looks to be led once again by O'Connor, who brings a smoothness and ease to the game for the Monarchs. O'Connor, in addition to her point totals, was the team's best draw control winner last season with 115, while adding team-highs of 37 caused turnovers and 10 free position goals. Her 92 shots were a team high, while scoring on 43.2 percent of her shots, also best on the squad.
One of the unsung heroes on last year's team but someone that is vital to the success of the Monarchs is sophomore
Emily Sims. One of the biggest personalities on the team, Sims work ethic, determination and willingness to do anything to help the squad win is what makes her one of the best two-way players in the league. Sims is a willing defender, but can take the ball to the rack with one of the best shots on the team. Sims scored 27 goals last season, and look for her nine assists total from last year to improve in 2020.
Junior
Mary Kate Klodarska is back for her third season with the Monarchs, and has had a stellar fall and preseason thus far. Klodarska had an effective sophomore campaign as she was second on the team in points and assists with 43 and 16, respectively. Her athleticism and skill combination is one of the best in the MAC Freedom, as she'll look to impress even more as a junior.
The coaching staff is excited about a newcomer to the midfield, as
Celia Medina has had a very stout preseason thus far. An athletic and coachable freshman, Medina has stepped into the squad with confidence and played well thus far for the Monarchs. Her ability to excel on both sides of the ball should help King's in both offensive and defensive transition.
DEFENSE
The most experienced group on the team is also among the deepest contingents, thanks to having three three-year starters and captains on the back end. In addition to Dardanelli, Pierce and Jen Smalley, King's has added four newcomers on defense to fortify the group this season and going into the future.
Pierce returns as one of the most dominant players in the conference, as she can take over a game defensively when she's on. Her toughness, stick skills and anticipation are elite, as is her ability to single-handedly transition the ball from defense to offense. Pierce also can score in transition, potting five goals last year. She posted a team-high 52 ground balls last season, and her 31 draw controls were third on the squad.
Dardanelli has started every game of her Monarch career for King's, getting the starting assignment in each of the last 54 contests for KC. That experience, along with her quickness and vision, have produced a consistent and steady defender that has picked up 23, 23 and 24 ground balls in each of her three seasons. Dardanelli has also increased her caused turnover total each of her three years, posting a career-high 13 last season.
Smalley is in the same boat as Dardanelli, having started all 54 games for the Monarchs over her tenure. The Newton, NJ native will get to play with her younger sister for her final year, and Smalley excels because of her strong stick skills, lacrosse IQ and superior direction on the field. Always talking, she helps control the defensive unit, adding 50 ground balls over the last three seasons.
Sophomore
Kristen Mahon missed a portion of last year as a freshman, but silently has continued to progress into a steady and confident option defensively. Mahon has a strong stick, anticipates well and should continue to see her playing time increase.
Among the freshman, the coaching staff has been very impressed with how all four have implemented themselves into the defensive unit. Freshman
Vivian Williams is the tallest player on the team, and her 5-10 length allows her to keep her stick in passing lanes while getting to ground balls before others. Her lateral quickness also has made her effective thus far in preseason.
Newcomer
Sam Volpe has looked good so far as well, as her stick and athleticism are strengths. Volpe also comes from a strong lacrosse area, as did fellow freshman
Brynn Pike. Pike played for Glastonbury High School, one of the best lacrosse teams in Connecticut. Pike reads plays well and coupled with her ability to move both vertically and laterally will give King's another strong option.
Freshman
Mackenzie Rockovich is another talented local recruit, one of five players within the immediate Wilkes-Barre area on the roster. Rockovich played for the GRIT Travel Lacrosse Club as a prep standout, and has a familiarity with head coach Ashley Stevens through her club career. Rockovich rarely is in the wrong spot defensively, and is one of the louder defenders on the squad.
GOALKEEPERS
For the first time in three seasons, the Monarchs will head into the regular season with multiple options in goal, though mainstay and returning starter
Orla Cottell returns for her junior campaign. Cottell has started all 37 games for the Monarchs during her career, and was named as an All-MAC Freedom Second Team honoree back as a freshman.
During preseason, Cottell has served as a great mentor to her new understudy,
Jessie Smalley. The unit has been extremely cohesive as the pairing has shown to work well together, allowing both to take sizable reps while having two sets of eyes to work on their games together.
Cottell has looked great in preseason for the Monarchs, as she came back from a semester abroad after breaking the single-season saves record a year ago with 202 in 2019. Cottell covers her goal well, has strong communication skills and helps with exits of the zone well. She also has two years of experience to go to now as a junior.
Smalley is extremely athletic, as she was a three-sport athlete in high school. She uses that athleticism in net well, cutting down angles on shooters while challenging attackers anytime she gets the chance. Smalley also is very mobile on clearing attempts, helping the transition game for King's. Both goalkeepers look to be great assets going into the 2020 season, and each should contribute.
COACHING STAFF
The Monarchs will be led by fourth-year head coach Ashley Stevens, as she looks to make the MAC Freedom for the fourth consecutive season at King's. Stevens has been working with a new assistant coach in 2019-20, as Casey Gover is in her first year with the Monarchs on the sidelines. Gover has brought a positive energy to the program, along with a strong knowledge of the game coming from one of the best lacrosse areas in the nation in Bel Air, MD.
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The Monarchs will start their season Wednesday, February 19 at Gwynedd Mercy University in Gwynedd Valley, PA.
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