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KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Progression has been the name of the game the last two years for the Kutztown University women's lacrosse team. KU comes off back-to-back seven-win seasons, returns eight starters and welcomes a new head coach in 2018 – all of which point toward heightened expectations and heightened success for the Golden Bears.
 
Kutztown has gone 7-10 and 3-9 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) the last two years, the most wins for the program since the program was re-established in 2008. While KU returns the majority of its on-field talent from a year ago, a new head coach will be at the helm in 2018.
 
Jackie Stezzi comes to KU from Wilmington University. She has hit the ground running at Kutztown and while she describes herself as a 'realist', Stezzi has exuded confidence in her Golden Bear squad and the success this current group can attain.
 
"I feel incredibly fortunate to have been granted this opportunity at KU," Stezzi said. "There is a great group of girls here that have bought in to a new style I brought in. It's been very exciting thus far, and I know we are all ready to get the season started."
 
While most returning coaches have the luxury of already knowing their returning players, while taking the time to get to know their new freshmen every year, Stezzi had the task of getting to know 25 new players this year – one of the largest rosters KU has had. Turning every obstacle into an asset, Stezzi has seen her team make the most of opportunities thus far, using practices and fall games to show why they deserve to be in the rotation this spring.
 
Stezzi watched KU's game tape from last season upon her hire, has spent an entire fall season filled with practices and games diagnosing her team, and has a strong sense of the makeup of the program. A significant change Stezzi wasted no time implementing, is a much-more strenuous strength & conditioning program - one the Golden Bear players have embraced and have shown great progression in thus far.
 
With many new rules effecting NCAA women's lacrosse this season, having a strong team by way of conditioning can make a significant impact down the stretch.
 
"Our game is undergoing a wealth of new changes this year, including a new possession clock," Stezzi said. "I'm sure it will take some time for teams and officials to gain a full grasp of the new rules, but I'm confident we will be able to adapt and work them into our style of play. All of these changes will be great for our sport as a whole moving forward."
 
Kutztown's roster of 25 is one of the largest KU has had recently, but Stezzi has been excited over the additional bodies – seeing increased competition in practice throughout the year and raising the bar of everyone on the team. Depth will be one of KU's strong points early-on, as it also features a freshmen class that has the ability to make an immediate impact on the team.
 
Leading the charge will be KU's trio of team captains this year - Madison Carlucci (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley), Lauren Schmidt (Hanover, Pa./South Western) and Jordan Klebe (Bishopville, Md./Stephen Decator) – giving KU a strong leadership presence.
 
All that said – Kutztown still has to go out and perform against one of the toughest conferences in Division II every week. Stezzi and her group have heightened expectations this year. In addition to the advanced strength & conditioning regime she brings, Steezi has not been shy about her team's goal to have a winning record, win 10 games and make a run at the playoffs – all potential firsts for the program since its reinstatement.
 
"This team has the ability and people in place right now to be successful," Stezzi said. "If you look at last year's results, this team lost a number of close games that could have gone the other way. By combining an improvement in the final push of games, with the talent and experience we bring back, this team can make the playoffs.
 
"They're really hungry, and ready to go."
 
Look for the PSAC to maintain its tradition of sporting multiple NCAA Tournament caliber teams. East Stroudsburg, West Chester, Indiana (PA) and Mercyhurst look to be threats once again for PSAC and NCAA titles, while the Golden Bears could easily find itself competing for one of the six playoff spots in the PSAC Tournament.
 
Attack
 
Kutztown returns four of its top-five scorers from last year, and notably, 9-of-10 players who scored a goal last season. Attack is one of the deepest position groups on the team for KU, who scored 170 goals last season – the most for the program since its return in 2008. Stezzi looks to utilize a more balanced approach in its offensive structure to allow for effective, high-quality shots on goal.
 
Sarah Gabriele (Felton, Pa./York Catholic) returns as a two-time All-PSAC attacker and one of the most prolific scorers in school history. She enters her senior season with five school-records, including the program's all-time scoring record, and comes off All-PSAC Second Team honors last season. She notched a program-record 67 points last year and already holds career records for points and goals in a career. Gabriele has shown Stezzi just how strong of a competitor she is, as Stezzi hopes to utilize KU's depth to take some of the offensive load off Gabriele, who scored 31 percent of KU's goals last season. Gabriele is also one of KU's best players off the draw control and will continue to be utilized in the draw.
 
Junior Makayla Bowman (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) is coming off a career-high 51 goals last season and has been a full-time starter in each of her first two years at KU. She increased her production tremendously last year and can become one of the best scoring options on the team this season. 
 
Two of KU's team captains, Carlucci and Klebe, add to KU's veteran leadership up front. Carlucci, a senior, has been a starter each of her three years at Kutztown. She has scored 15+ goals the last two years and is coming off a career-best 20 last season. She has been featured on the outside for KU and gives KU great experience on the wing. Klebe was voted a team captain after her first season on the field last year after redshirting in 2016. It took her just five games into the season to move into the starting lineup – a position she looks to maintain moving forward.
 
Sophomore Emily Leeb (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow) scored eight goals off the bench last season and should compete for starting time throughout the year. Leeb would be one of KU's first options off the bench and has continued to gain confidence though the fall season.
 
Carley Vegso (Newtown Square, Pa./Marple Newtown) returns as a redshirt-sophomore and played 14-of-17 games last season. Olivia Haas (Denver, Pa./Cocalico (Edinboro)) completed her first full season at KU after transferring from Edinboro and brings three years of PSAC experience into her senior year. Redshirt-freshman Sara Kilian (Ridley Park, Pa./Ridley) looks ahead to her first year on the field as all three aim to work their way into the rotation.
 
Cyla Cafferata (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Sachem North) and Lesley Lane (Jamesburg, N.J., Monroe Township) step on campus as freshmen this year. Stezzi feels this duo has gained confidence and has acclimated well into the college pace of play, giving them the opportunity to make an immediate impact with the program. Fellow freshman Georgianna Saxon (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown Area) joins the program and adds depth to the attacking line.
 
Midfield
 
Two juniors headline the midfield for the Golden Bears this season, and will certainly be used in the new rules regarding draw controls (three people per team allowed in draw circle until possession is gained). Emily Smith (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Hubert Catholic) and team captain Schmidt have started all 34 of KU's games the last two years and will remain two of KU's key players in the midfield.
 
Stezzi wants her toughest, fastest and grittiest players on draw controls this year, and Smith and Schmidt can both thrive in that role. Smith holds school-records for draw controls in a game and season, and also found the back of the net nine times in 2017. Schmidt was voted a team captain by her peers and is coming off a season in which she set career-highs in both goals (17) and draw controls (20).
 
Destanee Watkins (Emmaus, Pa./Emmaus) played in 14 games as a freshmen last year and is one of the fastest players on the team. She can be strong off draw controls due to her speed, as well as her length defensively to cause turnovers.
 
Devon Fitzpatrick (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) and Allison McCormick (West Deptford, N.J./West Deptford) join the team as freshmen and can work their way into draw controls while adding depth to the midfield group. Taylor Small (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Franklin Delano Roosevelt) is a freshman who will feature in a defensive role, while fellow freshman Ellie Sorrentino (Little Egg Harbor, N.J./Pinelands Regional) will redshirt this season.
 
Defense
 
On paper, Kutztown will have a very young defense this season; but if you ask Coach Stezzi, this group has played with the confidence and cohesiveness of a veteran group. Stezzi touts her defense as having a strong and fast style that will need to rely on its depth so KU can maintain an aggressive, 'in-your-face' front.
 
Junior Amanda Lehman (York, Pa./West York Area) stepped up her game last year with increased groundballs and caused turnovers and will look to lead the group atop the defensive line. Sophomore Megan Vaughan (Prince Frederick, Md./Southern) was also a full-time starter in her first year with the program last year. Vaughan and Lehman have taken on leadership roles on defense, setting KU up for great experience in years to come.
 
Sophomore Rylee Hill (Romansville, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) played all 17 games as a freshman last year and will vie for starting time this year on both defense and in the midfield. She is joined by Shannon Darcy (Warwick, N.Y./John S. Burke Catholic (Mercy)), a freshman transfer who redshirted at Mercy last year – an NCAA Tournament team, with college experience on the backline.
 
Kayla Kearns (Bethlehem, Pa./Notre Dame), Kaily Crystle (Springfield, Pa./Springfield), as well as Small, round out the defense this year.
 
Goalkeeper
 
Not only did Kutztown graduate its starting goalkeeper, it turns to a true freshman in 2018 as its one-and-only goalkeeper. Haley Kline (Reading, Pa./Wilson West Lawn) joins the program and has gained high praise from Stezzi thus far not only for her talent, but her ability to communicate with the defense and her vision to track the ball and intercept opposing passes. Stezzi's best compliment of Kline, "she's a playmaker".
 
Up Next
 
Kutztown will play its earliest game in the calendar year since the program reestablished in 2008 - Feb. 20 at home against Holy Family. KU will play three home games before first hitting the road in March.
 
PSAC action starts on March 17 with an immediate test at Indiana (PA). Senior Day is slated for April 21, with the ensuing PSAC Championships on May 1-6.