BIDDEFORD — After making the Commonwealth Coast Conference semifinals in back-to-back years, the University of New England women’s lacrosse team would like to take it one step further this year.
“I’m hoping to see the championship game, (and) see what we can do there,” said UNE head coach Sue Estabrook. “That is our team goal.”
The Nor’easters haven’t made it that far in Estabrook’s five seasons as head coach, and have only once made it to the CCC final ”“ under head coach Mimi Mills in 2001.
This season, however, the Nor’easters have a lot going their way in terms of reaching that goal; namely the return of their top six scorers from last season.
“We are very excited to have (Hannah Tavella) and Gina Newsome and all of them back,” said Estabrook. “I think it’s going to be really good for us to have a strong, offensive stance.”
Tavella, a senior captain and UNE’s all-time leader in points, will miss the early portion of the schedule due to injury. She led the Nor’easters with 65 goals and 78 points.
Also returning to lead the UNE attack are the aforementioned Newsome, former Massabesic standout Nikki Smith, Macki Hill, Hannah Warren and Rachel Schwaner. All six players are upperclassmen.
Also returning is sophomore goalie Courtney Kendall, who started all 17 games as a freshman last year for UNE. But the two-sport athlete ”“ Kendall also plays for the UNE women’s hockey team ”“ likely won’t be in net when the Nor’easters open their season on Wednesday at home against Thomas, as she is just returning to practice after the women’s hockey team season ended last weekend.
“We still see Courtney as our starting goalie, and doing some great things this year now that she has some confidence behind her,” said Estabrook.
The Nor’easters’ biggest asset this season, according to Estabrook, is its strength in every facet of the game.
“I think we’re kind of balanced on the field, finally. Our defense is pretty strong; we have Gina Iannazzi and Johanna Currier returning. On offense, we have some returners, and then we have some new players as well. We’ll actually be pretty balanced throughout the entire field,” said Estabrook. “We haven’t had that over the past few years.”
After finishing last season with a 7-10 record (4-4 in the CCC), Estabrook said her team needs to improve on winning close games. The Nor’easters lost two of their last four regular-season games by two goals and one goal.
“It’s really coming down to the mental part of the game, too; being a little more mentally tough and pulling out those Ws and those one-goal wins, and really pushing for the championship game,” said Estabrook.
To get to her first conference championship game as UNE head coach, Estabrook said her team will have to get through Endicott and Western New England ”“ the two teams that played in last year’s CCC title game. The Nor’easters went 0-3 combined against those two teams last year, including a 19-6 loss to Endicott in the CCC semifinals that ended UNE’s season.
UNE kicks off its season Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the Big Blue Turf in Biddeford, as the Nor’easters match up against the in-state rival Terriers. UNE opens conference play a month later against Endicott on the road.
— Staff Writer Wil Kramlich can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 323 or sports@journaltribune.com. Follow him on Twitter @WilTalkSports.
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