2012 Olivet College Women's Lacrosse Preview

In only its second year of existence, the 2012 Olivet College women's lacrosse team looks to improve on last year's 2-8 record. The Comets also won three other games against club programs, but those did not count toward their official win-loss record.

The 2012 roster features 18 players. Half of the players saw action on last year's team. Headlining the group of returning players are junior Ellen Malin (Burton/Bendle), sophomore Alyssa Meny (Marshall), and seniors Cara VanDam (Grand Rapids/City) and Cortney Wernette (Remus/Chippewa Hills), who combined to score half of the team's 52 goals last season. Meny led the quartet with 10 goals, while Wernette had seven.

Wernette's twin sister, Nicole, played softball the last two years, but has decided to play lacrosse this season. Junior Yuen Yu Chan (Hong Kong, China) and senior Lindsay Conrad (Freeland) are also back after playing in eight and two games, respectively, last season.

Senior Kelsie Kasuba (Rogers City) looks to bounce back from an injury last season to have a larger impact on the team in 2012. Sophomores Sara Keys (Chesaning/Union) and Amanda Wright (Olivet) played in all 10 games in 2011, with Keys scoring one goal.

A lot of the positive thoughts come from the fact there are seven freshmen on the roster, and the majority of them bring extensive lacrosse playing experience to the team. Mimi Garza (Battle Creek/Pennfield), Taylor Guarnaccia (East Lansing/Haslett), Brittany Hayes (Battle Creek/Lakeview), Geri Merrell (Battle Creek/Lakeview), Rachel Phillips (Highland/Lakeland) and Sarah Shaw (Grand Haven) all played lacrosse in high school. Shaw is penciled in to be the starting goalkeeper. Two other new players to the roster are freshman Mackenzie Inman (Union City) and sophomore Chelsea Iott (Mason).

Olivet will open the 2012 season with a game March 3 at Ohio Wesleyan University. The Comets' home-opener is March 7 against Alma College.