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Clarkson University Athletics

2024 Clarkson Women's Lacrosse Preview

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Ben Moeller

Women's Lacrosse | 2/15/2024 8:00:00 AM

After starting the season 5-0 in non-conference games a year ago, the Clarkson University Women's Lacrosse team was hit with the grueling Liberty League schedule and just missed out on the postseason. The Golden Knights will be seeking their fourth playoff spot since the 2018 season when the campaign begins February 27th against Oswego State at Hantz Field.

Guided by second-year head coach Ally Burrows and assistant Georgia Ryan, the Green and Gold return 21 players from last year's team, including eight starters.

Besides the loss of a few starters due to graduation, Clarkson will be without first-year sensation Lauren Shanahan, who suffered an injury in the fall. Even without Shanahan, the Knights have three of their top four scorers from a season ago, including IWLCA All-Region and Liberty League First-Team All-Star Madelynn Barnum as well as Liberty League All-Star Julia Lavarnway. Barnum produced 49 goals for the second straight season, only four shy of the program's single-season record, and notched 60 points overall. The senior midfielder added 76 draw controls to lead the team and also tossed in 25 groundballs and 23 caused turnovers, figures that both ranked in the top three on the squad. With a strong season, Barnum could surpass the 200 point mark for her career, becoming only the fifth Golden Knight to do so. Lavarnway also came close to setting a single-season standard for the Knights, posting 47 assists which was just two short of the program record. Overall, Lavarnway notched 71 points, and Clarkson was fortunate to have her return to school for a graduate year and help run the offense for another season.

Senior Hailey Millington will be leaned upon for even more production this spring after scoring 40 points a season ago. Millington ranked third on the team in goals with 35 and could see more opportunities after the team lost a handful of players to graduation this past spring. Sophomore Sydney Nakas contributed 17 points on 14 goals and three assists in her first collegiate season and also may see her numbers increase with increased chances. Others joining in at attack are junior Riley Kuczma and first-year collegians Gabby Cranfield, Makenna Cassin, Ava Goyette, and Abie Leighton, with Cranfield and Cassin expected to jump in as significant contributors in their opening season with the Green and Gold.

Last season Shanahan and Barnum were busy on draws in the middle, but without Shanahan Ireland Morgia might see more opportunities for draw controls. Morgia played both in the midfield and on defense a year ago, but the Golden Knights have all three starters back on defense, which could allow the multi-dimensional Morgia a larger role in starting the team's offense. Senior Grace Graney is also back and healthy this spring, which will provide her a larger chance to showcase her abilities on a more regular basis. The Knights are fairly inexperience in the midfield outside of Barnum, as a number of players are entering just their second seasons at the collegiate level. Junior Kaitlyn McNamara and sophomores Brooklynne Perrigo, Merissa McCorry, and Isabella Koprowski will get more playing time while first-year Caroline Kloc will also vie for minutes.

Defensively, the Golden Knights return all of their starters. Senior Rylee Ganter, a Liberty League All-Star a year ago, led the team with 26 caused turnovers, while junior Julia Patterson and sophomore Maeve Bartell combined for another 21 caused turnovers. Bolstering that group are senior Meredith James, junior Bethan Tanner and Mairead Coyne as well as sophomores Morgan Kenna and Gabby O'Connell. Freshman Jane Biaglow will also provide depth on defense.

Clarkson also has its starting goalkeeper back in the way of Jennaca McGill. The sophomore posted 101 saves in 835 minutes a year ago, starting all 17 contests. Joining McGill in the crease are first-year collegians Riley Donovan and Clare Tucker. Last season, McGill split time initially with the team's other goalkeeper Danni Moran, and both Donovan and Tucker will have a chance to see significant minutes in their first season.    


 
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Players Mentioned

Madelynn Barnum

#13 Madelynn Barnum

M
5' 6"
Junior
Mairead Coyne

#4 Mairead Coyne

D
5' 6"
Sophomore
Rylee Ganter

#9 Rylee Ganter

M/D
5' 8"
Junior
Grace Graney

#19 Grace Graney

M
5' 3"
Junior
Meredith James

#18 Meredith James

D
5' 3"
Junior
Riley Kuczma

#6 Riley Kuczma

A
5' 7"
Sophomore
Julia Lavarnway

#8 Julia Lavarnway

A
5' 4"
Senior
Kaitlyn McNamara

#14 Kaitlyn McNamara

M
5' 2"
Sophomore
Hailey Millington

#11 Hailey Millington

A/M
5' 1"
Junior
Julia Patterson

#7 Julia Patterson

M
5' 8"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Madelynn Barnum

#13 Madelynn Barnum

5' 6"
Junior
M
Mairead Coyne

#4 Mairead Coyne

5' 6"
Sophomore
D
Rylee Ganter

#9 Rylee Ganter

5' 8"
Junior
M/D
Grace Graney

#19 Grace Graney

5' 3"
Junior
M
Meredith James

#18 Meredith James

5' 3"
Junior
D
Riley Kuczma

#6 Riley Kuczma

5' 7"
Sophomore
A
Julia Lavarnway

#8 Julia Lavarnway

5' 4"
Senior
A
Kaitlyn McNamara

#14 Kaitlyn McNamara

5' 2"
Sophomore
M
Hailey Millington

#11 Hailey Millington

5' 1"
Junior
A/M
Julia Patterson

#7 Julia Patterson

5' 8"
Sophomore
M