Stockton University Athletics

Osprey Outlook: Women's Lacrosse Preview

Women's Lacrosse | 2/25/2022 11:33:00 AM

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The 2022 Stockton University women's lacrosse team will lean heavily on the offensive end, but also return depth on defense and in goal. Head coach Cristina Maurizi will have 12 returning letter winners, five of whom started at least seven of Stockton's nine games last year.
 
Stockton should have plenty of offensive firepower as the Ospreys return players who scored all but 13 of the team's 106 goals last season. Heading the offense will three players who have already placed their name in the Stockton record books with a season to play.
 
2021 NJAC First Team selections Casey Shultz and Michelle Pascrell, along with Jennifer Toal will lead the team. Shultz averaged 1.38 assists per game (4th in NJAC) and 3.25 points per game (6th in NJAC) last spring. She has scored 106 points in her career, needing just 24 more to become Stockton's all-time leading scorer (Zoey Kramer, 129 points, 2014-15).
 
Pascrell had another huge year, ranking in the top eight in the league in seven categories. The senior finished fourth in shots (5.67 spg), tied for eighth in goals (2.22 gpg) and assists (0.89 apg) and eighth in points (3.11 ppg). Defensively she was even better, placing fifth in ground balls (2.11/game) and draw controls (4.33/game) plus tied for sixth in caused turnovers (1.33/game).
 
Pascrell became the Ospreys' all-time leading goal scorer last year and has 80 tallies with a year to play. She's fifth at Stockton in assists (19), sixth in both draw controls (56) and caused turnovers (46) and eighth with 72 ground balls.
 
Toal contributed 2.22 goals and 1.33 caused turnovers per game (T-6th in NJAC) last year. She ranks eighth in the Stockton record book with 29 career caused turnovers. Allie Bremer (15 goals last year), Holly Yannacone (8 goals) and Lucy Sullivan (7 goals) add even more firepower. Bremer also should be one of the leading Ospreys in draw controls.
 
Nikki Owen (5 goals) and Amanda Belej (2 goals) are two more returnees who add more depth on offense. Junior Mary Meduri is a transfer who brings college experience from two seasons at Lock Haven. Freshmen Margot Costello and Isabella Marinello will vie for time at attack, with fellow rookie Emily Deworsop looking to see action at midfield.
 
Leading the defense will be senior Kylie Evans and sophomore Meghan Pellegrino. Last season, Pellegrino finished 10th in the league, scooping 1.89 ground balls per game. With 23 career games played, Evans (5 GB, 3 CT last year) is the most experienced defender on the roster.
 
Junior Kerstin Axe, a transfer from St. Francis (Pa.), adds experience to the young defense. Axe totaled nine ground balls and four caused turnovers in 18 games at St. Francis. Newcomer Mary McLaughlin, a junior, also will be counted on to help the Ospreys in the back while freshmen Morgan Decosta and Lilly Alessandro add to the depth on defense.
 
In goal, Stockton will be three deep. Junior Jordan Hawkes and sophomore Daniela Elliott are returnees. Hawkes saw action in seven games, with 12 saves in 124 minutes, last year. Elliott was in net three times, kicking out five of the seven shots on goal that she faced in 80 minutes. Rookie Meg Lynch will push for playing time in her first college season.