CONWAY, S.C. - The Coastal Carolina women's lacrosse team dawns a new campaign tomorrow evening, as it is set to welcome the Vermont Catamounts to Brooks Stadium for opening day of the 2024 season.
Since the inception of the program in 2013, the Chanticleers are 6-5 in season openers and 3-3 in season openers at home. Sunday's contest will be the season opener for both programs.
History vs Vermont
In both programs' brief history, the Chants and the Catamounts have met just once, dating back to Apr. 25, 2016. That lone meeting was played on the campus of Maryvale Prep School in Lutherville, Md. where Coastal secured a 15-10 victory.
About Coastal
Following a 12-7 season and a semifinal exit in the ASUN Tournament a year ago, the Chants were picked third in the Atlantic Sun Conference Preseason Poll behind only reigning ASUN champions Liberty and first-placed Jacksonville. Senior midfielder and last year's ASUN midfielder of the year Avery McIlwaine was voted as a unanimous Preseason All-Conference selection for the first time in her CCU career, and redshirt senior defender Jordan Gertz was one of four defenders listed on the conference's preseason team.
Along with McIlwaine and Gertz, returning for the Chants is goalkeeper Claire Martell, defender Claudia Kelly, midfielders Sydney McClure, Avery Snyder and Sydney Tornetta and attackers Alyson Mascolo and Abi George. McIlwaine herself accounted for a career-high 35 goals a season ago, along with 19 assists and 47 draw controls. The midfield trio of McClure, Synder and Tornetta combined for 48 assists and 51 draw controls. On the attacking end, Mascolo and George combined for 40 goals last season.
Head coach Rachel Shuck Whitten brought in a class of seven incoming freshmen, as well as two transfers in Erin Clark from Youngstown State and Samantha Paglino from conference rival Stetson.
Whitten also added to her coaching staff this offseason with the return of assistant coach Samantha Giacolone from Stanford and the addition of former CCU attacker and SoCon Offensive Player of the Year Hannah Demis. Giacolone will serve as the team's defensive coordinator, while Demis will work primarily with the offensive side of the field for the 2024 season.
About Vermont
In the preseason poll released by the American East Conference, Vermont was picked to finish second, just one point ahead of Binghamton in third and seven behind Albany in first.
Last season, Vermont finished 8-8 overall (4-2 in the American East) with wins over Harvard, Bryant, New Hampshire and UMBC. The Catamounts ended their season with an exit in the 2023 American Conference Tournament after a close 12-10 loss to No. 2 Binghamton.
This year's Catamounts are captained by graduates Erin Kloostra, last season's Co-Attacker of the Year Ava Vasile and Kenzie Vasque, and seniors Charlotte Nevins and Meghan O'Connor. Also returning is last season's American East Rookie of the Year Jane Trauger and junior attacker Maddie Erskine, who finished her sophomore season with 29 goals and eight assists. Head coach Sarah Dalton Graddock features an incoming class of 13 newcomers, including 11 freshmen and two transfers.
About Wofford
Their matchup with the Chants on Sunday will serve as the season opener for a Terriers team who finished 7-10 overall and 4-5 in Bg South play a season ago.
Wofford was picked to finish fourth in the Big South preseason poll, behind Furman, High-Point and regining conference champion Mercer.
Head coach Jessie Aguglia brings in an incoming class of ten freshmen, as well as three transfers. Returners Bria Foley and Lily Barger were named to the Big South Preseason All-Conference Team. Barger, a redshirt sophomore from Matthews, North Carolina, appeared in all 17 games last season, finished with the team's second highest caused turnover rate and ground ball rate. Foley spent the previous two seasons at Gardner-Webb. In her final season with the Bulldogs, she scored 38 goals with 26 assists for 64 total points to earn second team All-Big South honors. She has played in 36 career games with 18 starts and 97 career points.
CCU vs. Vermont from Brooks Stadium is scheduled for a 4 P.M. ET start time. On Sunday, the Chants and the Terriers are set for a noon ET start.
For complete coverage of CCU women's lacrosse, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalWLAX (Twitter), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com
