Bridget Marquardt has suffered through two heart-breaking, season-ending losses in as many years.
Jordan-Elbridge attacker Ryanne Farrugia tries to get around her teammate on defense, Amy English, during practice Monday afternoon. Jason Rearick / The Citizen
But this season, the Skaneateles girls lacrosse coach is determined the Lakers will win the big game.
After a shocking 13-12 upset loss to Corning East in the first round of the state playoffs, two-time Section III, Division II champion Skaneateles hopes to return to the state tournament with better results this year.
"To be honest with you, last year those were our goals," Marquardt said. "Get out of the section, get to the state tournament. We lost in the regionals in a game that we really shouldn't have lost, so I think we're kind of taking a different approach this year in that we're going to concentrate one game at a time and prepare and use the season to prepare for the sectionals. Obviously go for the league title again, go for the sectional title, and then take it from there.
"Kind of not take anyone for granted, because once you get into sectionals it's anybody's game."
In 2004 the Lakers were a heavy favorite to win the state Division II title, and they return capable players to reach states again.
All-American attack-midfielder and Duke-bound Carolyn Davis (68 goals, 80 assists) leads the list of Skaneateles returnees. Breanna Haggerty (47 goals, 20 assists) and Libby Johnson also return, as well as attack-middie Stephanie Rice.
Like the attack, the midfield and defense will be solid. Emily Lotokowictz anchors a strong midfield with help from fellow senior Lauren Vitkus. On defense, fifth-year varsity player Cassidy Callahan, Hekia Bodwitch and Abby Duggan are a veteran unit.
"What are strong points are our athleticism and our depth so we're going to use that," Marquardt said. "I think we have a good transition team; moving the ball, some speed, and we're good on the fast break. So we are going to use that, we're not going to concentrate on holding the ball anymore on offense."
While the Lakers have a strong group of returnees, they did lose three integral players; attacker Kaitlin Nangle (Holy Cross), Lindsey Pittard (Oregon, draws) and goalie Beth Zimmer (Siena). All three were all-Section III first-teamers.
Zimmer's back up, Danielle Murphy, will see some time in the cage this season along with junior Whitney Johnson.
Last season, the Lakers breezed through the league schedule to a 12-0 record.
This year, Skaneateles will have to play well against the usual Liberty American contenders, but Marquardt has scheduled several non-league games including defending-state champion Fayetteville-Manlius, 2003 state champion West Genesee and Long Island's Garden City to strengthen the team.
"Since I've gotten here I've believed that the only way to get better is to play teams that are better," Marquardt said. "In the scheme of things, those games don't really matter (if we lose). It's not a sectional game, it's not a league game, so you still can get into sectionals win or lose, but it makes the team better prepared for the sectionals and the tournament."
In the league, Christian Brothers Academy, whom Skaneateles has defeated in the Class B Championship game the past two years, is down this year but is still in the hunt for the league title.
"I think CBA will challenge us every year," Marquardt said. "They lost three really talented players (from) last year. I think they're going to be tough because they don't have those standout players, so they're more likely to pass the ball to everybody and everybody is going to be a threat."
Skaneateles will also have a fight on its hands when it faces nearby rival Jordan-Elbridge.
The Eagles lost six starters to graduation, including goalie Heather Ely, but otherwise have a veteran group returning from last season's 15-4 team.
Jordan-Elbridge saw its 2004 season end in a 15-14 loss, but coach Hobie Demuth has higher expectations for this year's squad though they may not have as deep of a bench as Demuth would like.
"I have pretty good (players) but we don't have as many numbers as we did - so that's different," Demuth said. "The ones filling in are pretty new - they haven't played varsity."
Attackers Julia Demuth, Julie and Allison Bush should be three of Eagles' top goal scorers, while Teri Noll and Kait Fuller return to anchor a strong midfield. Jill Donofrio and Melissa Ellingworth are back on defense.
Junior Erica Troia will fill the spot vacated by Ely, who joined former players Stephanie Barrigar and Terri George at Herkimer Community College.
Troia is just one of several new players that will have to step up in order for the Eagles to be successful, though Demuth notes that the newcomers are ambitious and working hard.
"Our goalie has to prove herself and a few people have to improve so we have enough numbers to stay fresh on the field," Demuth said.
At first glance, the Auburn Maroons appear to be in the same situation as Jordan-Elbridge and Skaneateles.
The Maroons lost goalie Carly Colvin to graduation, as well as a number of other talented seniors.
But Auburn has two solid keepers waiting to take Colvin's place in Jolynn Brewer and Brittany Baran.
"One of the big things is than we only had one goalie, and if she ever went down we needed somebody else," Swartele said. "(Baran) is very good, Jolynn Brewer, who played JV last year has improved a lot."
The Maroons' Class of 2004 will be replaced with a young team in 2005 that only boasts seven returnees. There are only four seniors, but Swartele isn't worried. She believes the girls who moved up can get the job done.
"We may have lost a lot of people from this year but we have some good athletes this year who know how to play the game," Swartele said. "Some of our ninth-graders are very strong. They play a lot in the offseason; they play whenever they get a chance. They're going to help the team out tremendously."
Besides Baran, there are three other freshmen on the team; Abby Gamba, Flanery Nangle and Rosie Scheibel. All three are expected to be middies with veteran Caitlyn Liccion.
Most of the Maroons' experience will be at the attack and defender positions. On the offensive end, Leigh Downing, Andrea Musso, Bridgette Cool all have varsity experience as does Shannon Lattimore, who missed most of 2004 with an injury.
Seniors Karley Reynolds and Meghan Sierzenga will lead the defense.
Swartele is optimistic the team will improve on last season's 4-12 finish. Swartele would like the girls to come together quickly.
"I'd like to see a lot more team unity - working together on the field, doing things off the field (to) make them more compatible on the field," Swartele said. "The hard part that we have is transitioning the ball from one side to the other. Hopefully that is something we can work on because we'll have a lot of returners for next year."
After a shocking 13-12 upset loss to Corning East in the first round of the state playoffs, two-time Section III, Division II champion Skaneateles hopes to return to the state tournament with better results this year.
"To be honest with you, last year those were our goals," Marquardt said. "Get out of the section, get to the state tournament. We lost in the regionals in a game that we really shouldn't have lost, so I think we're kind of taking a different approach this year in that we're going to concentrate one game at a time and prepare and use the season to prepare for the sectionals. Obviously go for the league title again, go for the sectional title, and then take it from there.
"Kind of not take anyone for granted, because once you get into sectionals it's anybody's game."
In 2004 the Lakers were a heavy favorite to win the state Division II title, and they return capable players to reach states again.
All-American attack-midfielder and Duke-bound Carolyn Davis (68 goals, 80 assists) leads the list of Skaneateles returnees. Breanna Haggerty (47 goals, 20 assists) and Libby Johnson also return, as well as attack-middie Stephanie Rice.
Like the attack, the midfield and defense will be solid. Emily Lotokowictz anchors a strong midfield with help from fellow senior Lauren Vitkus. On defense, fifth-year varsity player Cassidy Callahan, Hekia Bodwitch and Abby Duggan are a veteran unit.
"What are strong points are our athleticism and our depth so we're going to use that," Marquardt said. "I think we have a good transition team; moving the ball, some speed, and we're good on the fast break. So we are going to use that, we're not going to concentrate on holding the ball anymore on offense."
While the Lakers have a strong group of returnees, they did lose three integral players; attacker Kaitlin Nangle (Holy Cross), Lindsey Pittard (Oregon, draws) and goalie Beth Zimmer (Siena). All three were all-Section III first-teamers.
Zimmer's back up, Danielle Murphy, will see some time in the cage this season along with junior Whitney Johnson.
Last season, the Lakers breezed through the league schedule to a 12-0 record.
This year, Skaneateles will have to play well against the usual Liberty American contenders, but Marquardt has scheduled several non-league games including defending-state champion Fayetteville-Manlius, 2003 state champion West Genesee and Long Island's Garden City to strengthen the team.
"Since I've gotten here I've believed that the only way to get better is to play teams that are better," Marquardt said. "In the scheme of things, those games don't really matter (if we lose). It's not a sectional game, it's not a league game, so you still can get into sectionals win or lose, but it makes the team better prepared for the sectionals and the tournament."
In the league, Christian Brothers Academy, whom Skaneateles has defeated in the Class B Championship game the past two years, is down this year but is still in the hunt for the league title.
"I think CBA will challenge us every year," Marquardt said. "They lost three really talented players (from) last year. I think they're going to be tough because they don't have those standout players, so they're more likely to pass the ball to everybody and everybody is going to be a threat."
Skaneateles will also have a fight on its hands when it faces nearby rival Jordan-Elbridge.
The Eagles lost six starters to graduation, including goalie Heather Ely, but otherwise have a veteran group returning from last season's 15-4 team.
Jordan-Elbridge saw its 2004 season end in a 15-14 loss, but coach Hobie Demuth has higher expectations for this year's squad though they may not have as deep of a bench as Demuth would like.
"I have pretty good (players) but we don't have as many numbers as we did - so that's different," Demuth said. "The ones filling in are pretty new - they haven't played varsity."
Attackers Julia Demuth, Julie and Allison Bush should be three of Eagles' top goal scorers, while Teri Noll and Kait Fuller return to anchor a strong midfield. Jill Donofrio and Melissa Ellingworth are back on defense.
Junior Erica Troia will fill the spot vacated by Ely, who joined former players Stephanie Barrigar and Terri George at Herkimer Community College.
Troia is just one of several new players that will have to step up in order for the Eagles to be successful, though Demuth notes that the newcomers are ambitious and working hard.
"Our goalie has to prove herself and a few people have to improve so we have enough numbers to stay fresh on the field," Demuth said.
At first glance, the Auburn Maroons appear to be in the same situation as Jordan-Elbridge and Skaneateles.
The Maroons lost goalie Carly Colvin to graduation, as well as a number of other talented seniors.
But Auburn has two solid keepers waiting to take Colvin's place in Jolynn Brewer and Brittany Baran.
"One of the big things is than we only had one goalie, and if she ever went down we needed somebody else," Swartele said. "(Baran) is very good, Jolynn Brewer, who played JV last year has improved a lot."
The Maroons' Class of 2004 will be replaced with a young team in 2005 that only boasts seven returnees. There are only four seniors, but Swartele isn't worried. She believes the girls who moved up can get the job done.
"We may have lost a lot of people from this year but we have some good athletes this year who know how to play the game," Swartele said. "Some of our ninth-graders are very strong. They play a lot in the offseason; they play whenever they get a chance. They're going to help the team out tremendously."
Besides Baran, there are three other freshmen on the team; Abby Gamba, Flanery Nangle and Rosie Scheibel. All three are expected to be middies with veteran Caitlyn Liccion.
Most of the Maroons' experience will be at the attack and defender positions. On the offensive end, Leigh Downing, Andrea Musso, Bridgette Cool all have varsity experience as does Shannon Lattimore, who missed most of 2004 with an injury.
Seniors Karley Reynolds and Meghan Sierzenga will lead the defense.
Swartele is optimistic the team will improve on last season's 4-12 finish. Swartele would like the girls to come together quickly.
"I'd like to see a lot more team unity - working together on the field, doing things off the field (to) make them more compatible on the field," Swartele said. "The hard part that we have is transitioning the ball from one side to the other. Hopefully that is something we can work on because we'll have a lot of returners for next year."
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