CU Women's Lacrosse Preview - vs. Rensselaer/Skidmore (4/22-23)

Only three games remain on the Liberty League schedule for the Clarkson University Women's Lacrosse team, and the Golden Knights will look to lock up a playoff spot this weekend when they travel to face Rensselaer and Skidmore.

The Golden Knights enter the weekend with a record of 11-2 overall and 5-1 in conference. Rensselaer comes into Friday's game with a record of 6-5 overall and 2-3 in the conference, while Skidmore is 6-6 and 3-2 prior to its game against St. Lawrence on Friday.

Clarkson leads the Liberty League on offense and defense, scoring 12.38 goals per game and allowing just 5.77 goals per contest, clearly creating the largest margin of victory in the league as well at (+6.6 gpg). Senior Christine Wright set new Clarkson standards last weekend for both points (79) and assists (40) in a season, and she leads the conference in both categories with 6.08 ppg and 3.08 apg while ranking third in goals per game (3.00 gpg). She trails teammate Ashley Flick in goals as the junior has posted 41 in 13 games (3.15 gpg). Kate Dillon and Taylor Collins have both surpassed 30 points this year, too, with 36 and 30 points, respectively. Collins leads the team with 26 groundballs and has also caused 10 turnovers and earned 30 draw controls. Wright leads the team in the latter two categories with 16 caused turnovers and 31 draws, while Flick is the team's leader in groundballs with 21. Defensively, Samantha Gladd has proved to be a steady stopper in the crease, leading the conference in both goals against average (6.05 gaa) and save percentage (.504).

Rensselaer ranks eighth in goals per game this year with 8.18 per contest, but the Engineers have made up for that deficiency with a solid defense that is allowing slightly more than 10 goals per game. Sophie Hager leads the team with 24 points on 18 goals and six assists and MacKenzie O'Neil follows her closely with 22 points on 17 goals and five helpers. Erin DeLucca has also provided 16 points and 21 draws while Maddy Aslansan has contributed 15 points and 23 groundballs. Aleena Milinski and Rebecca Wilen split time in the crease for the Engineers. Milinski has a superior 8.99 goals against average, but Wilen's save percentage of .439 is .054 better than her teammate's.

Skidmore's Tyler Phillips is a dangerous offensive threat, ranking fourth in the Liberty League in points per game (3.92) thanks to 36 goals and 11 assists. She's also busy defensively with a league-best 2.42 caused turnovers to go along with 29 groundballs and 35 draw controls. Cas Szwajkowski has been the recipient of several of Phillips' assists as she has tallied 30 goals. Rachel Talanian ranks first in the conference in groundballs (3.75 gpg) and is second in caused turnovers (2.33 ctpg). Megan Kolopsky ranks fourth in the league in both goals against average (8.30) and save percentage (.471).

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#3 Taylor Collins: M; 5' 3"; Sophomore

#21 Kate Dillon: A; 5' 1"; Junior

#2 Ashley Flick: A; 5' 6"; Junior

#19 Christine Wright: M; 5' 4"; Senior

#30 Samantha Gladd: GK; 5' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#3 Taylor Collins
: 5' 3"; Sophomore
: M

#21 Kate Dillon
: 5' 1"; Junior
: A

#2 Ashley Flick
: 5' 6"; Junior
: A

#19 Christine Wright
: 5' 4"; Senior
: M

#30 Samantha Gladd
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: GK