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ITHACA, N.Y. – The nationally-ranked Ithaca College women's lacrosse team is less than one week away from getting the ball rolling on its much anticipated 2017 season. This week's taste of warmer weather is a stirring reminder that the spring season is on the near horizon and as any IC fan can attest, the springs are for lacrosse here on South Hill. The Bombers have been working diligently since returning to campus from winter break and are ready to showcase the fruits of their efforts in live competition when they hit the field at Higgins Stadium for the season opener against Skidmore this Saturday.
 
Entering her second season at the helm of the IC women's program, head coach Karrie Moore has liked what she has seen from her team during the grueling preseason. Although the squad may not boast the sheer numbers of last season's team, what it lacks in bodies it more than makes up for in terms of experience.
 
"We got a lot of returners this season, it is a very veteran group," Moore said. "We have a smaller team than last year, but that has not been a negative, as everyone has been able to get a lot of reps in during the preseason."
 
The IC women are coming off another successful season during the 2016 campaign, Moore's debut season in charge of the program. The Bombers posted a 14-6 overall record, which included a trip to the Empire 8 Championship Game and a run to the Second Round of the NCAA Division III Tournament. It marked the sixth time since 2001 that IC has made an appearance in the tournament.
 
"This season already feels so much different, since [assistant coach] Erin Growney and I have now been able to have a full year with the team," Moore continued. "Returning the veteran group that we have has been great because they all have been through the challenges of a long regular season and a run in the NCAA Tournament."
 
Expectations are high for the IC women to make more noise this season, as Ithaca opens the year ranked 20^th in the U.S. Lacrosse Magazine preseason poll and 19^th in the IWLCA preseason rankings. While the preseason press has been a nice validation of the team's past accomplishments and current national reputation, Moore does not believe it puts undue pressure or has caused more excitement within her squad entering the year.
 
"This program has always had a strong tradition and our program goals have always been to compete for championships at the both the conference and national levels," Moore explained. "Being ranked to begin the year does not change the expectations we have as a team. We have a hungry group that's eager to grow from last season and achieve new heights this year."
 
Ithaca will take the first step towards those goals this weekend. The following is a position-by-position breakdown of the Bombers entering the year.
 
Attack
 
The Bombers' offense should once again be potent in 2017, as they return the majority of the attacking unit from last season's squad. Ithaca paced the Empire 8 Conference and ranked near the top of the national statistical charts with 270 goals on the year, averaging 13.5 goals per game. The return of this core has Moore excited about what the team will be capable of this coming spring.
 
"Our attack is definitely going to be a strength of the team with so many talented returners in that area of the field," Moore exclaimed. "They have a firm grasp of the offense that Erin and I have implemented over the past year, which really helps the in-game learning curve this season. I think with the base of knowledge ingrained, we have the opportunity to run some more nuanced offensive sets this season."
 
The leader of the group is senior Morgan Racicot, who enjoyed a breakout season with a career-high 72 points on 42 goals and 30 assists. She finished third in the conference in scoring and assists en route to being named an Empire 8 All-Conference First-Team honoree and a Second Team All-Region selection by the IWLCA.
 
The Bombers should also see a spark in production from a pair of rising sophomores in Allison Panara and Danika Wagener.
 
Panara paced the team's rookies in points last season with 43, which included 28 goals. She was named the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year at the conclusion of the season. Those numbers figure to increase, as she moves from a more midfield role to a primary attacker this season.
 
Wagener also turned in a solid debut campaign in 2016, registering 35 points on 20 goals and 15 assists. Her impact on the team intensified as the season continued, culminating in a four-goal effort in the Bombers' NCAA Tournament win over Regis. Wagener's impact will certainly be felt in 2017.
 
Ithaca also will benefit from the return of an extremely talented upperclassman that was sidelined with an injury last season in fifth-year Ally Runyon. A two-time Empire 8 All-Conference First Teamer, Runyon registered 60-plus points in both the 2014 and 2015 seasons, before missing all of 2016. Moore is excited by what her return will bring to an already loaded attack.
 
Rounding out the group on attack is the sophomore duo of Maeve Cambria and Elizabeth Rice, as well as a pair of freshmen in Bailey Herr and Erika Fortune.
 
Cambria appeared in seven games for IC during her rookie season, registering five points on two goals and three helpers. Rice has shown great promise in preseason after missing the entirety of the 2016 season with an injury. Moore also expects the two rookies, which make up half of IC's first-year class, to also crack their way into the action this season. In particular, Moore has said that Herr has stood out during the preseason and may push for regular playing time in 2017.
 
Midfield
 
The one area that will likely see some changes in terms of strategy and scheme is the midfield. Although the group returns some significant talent, it has been this position that has lost the most depth from last season.
 
"We had a lot of people in the midfield last year, which helped keep everyone fresh since we were able to rotate so many players throughout the course of a game," Moore examined. "Unfortunately, we do not have the luxury of those numbers this season, so we will need to get a little creative in managing the workloads of our players in this area of the field."
 
Headlining the group from an offensive standpoint is senior Morgan Cadwell. She finished third on the team in scoring last season with 53 points, while she ranked second on the team in goals with 44. Her 23 free-position goals lead the team by a wide margin.
 
Fellow senior, Gaby Berne, will be a key cog centrally for IC. She started all 20 games for the Bombers a season ago, finishing sixth on the team with 22 points, which included 19 goals. The senior added 31 ground-balls and 13 caused turnovers. Classmate, Olivia Oppenheim also figures to play a critical role in the midfield this season. She appeared in 13 contests a season ago, recording five goals, five ground-balls, and five caused turnovers.
 
Adding to the returning experience is senior Taylor Brady, who transitions to midfield after spending the majority of her career up top. She appeared in nine contests for IC last season, recording four points on three goals and an assist, while also collecting six ground-balls and six caused turnovers.
 
Sophomore Erin McGee also is expected to see an increased role in 2017, after appearing in 12 contests last season. She found the back of the net seven times in 2016, while also registering six ground-balls and one caused turnover. Freshman Katie Welch rounds out the group.
 
Defense
 
Ithaca looks to be well stocked on the back end, as it returns three starters in its defensive corps in 2017. Juniors Molly Long and Elizabeth Sauer, as well as sophomore Reid Simoncini, each saw extensive time last year and will look to continue to build together this season.
 
"It always is a big boost to the team when you have an experienced defense, which proves so invaluable in transitioning up the field," Moore said. "With three starters returning, the defense should be a strength for us this season."
 
Long finished third on the squad with 30 ground-balls and second with 27 caused turnovers in 2016, en route to earning Empire 8 All-Conference First-Team selection. Sauer was an All-Conference Second-Team honoree after logging 34 ground-balls and 41 caused turnovers, both tops on the team a season ago. Simoncini added 19 ground-balls and 16 caused turnovers in 19 games played.
 
Moore also expects big contributions from freshman Becky Mehorter, who has had a dynamite preseason. The coaching staff has been impressed with her level of play during the past month and figures to get her into game action frequently during the early season.
 
Adding depth to the defensive corps are sophomores Jayne Carver and Kaylou Stoddard. Carver saw time in 10 contests last season, amassing 14 ground-balls and six caused turnovers. Stoddard saw action in two games in 2016.
 
Goalkeeper
 
Ithaca will be well-stocked in the cage this season with both of its keepers back in 2017. The duo of junior Kimberly Presuto and senior Emily Ross evenly split time in the cage last season with both posting strong numbers.
 
Presuto was named Empire 8 Goalie of the Year and garnered All-Conference First-Team honors, posting a .524 save percentage and 7.52 goals-against average. Ross was more often than not the goalie of record last season, going 12-4 with a .426 save percentage and 9.12 goals-against average.
 
Looking Ahead
 
After opening the season against the Thoroughbreds of Skidmore, the Bombers hit the road for the first of four contests away from Higgins Stadium during the month of March. IC takes on St. Lawrence in a 1:00 p.m. tilt on Saturday, March 4. Ithaca also faces Brockport on the road on Saturday, March 11, while it does battle with Trinity College and Dickinson College during their Spring Break trip, which extends from March 11-March 18 in Nashville, Tenn.
 
IC open's Empire 8 play at home on Wednesday, March 8, when it welcomes Hartwick to Higgins Stadium for a 4:00 p.m. contest. A three-game home set against SUNY Cortland on March 22, Alfred University on March 25, and Elmira College on March 28 closes out the month.
 
Ithaca's first Empire 8 road tilt will be against defending-champion St. John Fisher on Saturday, April 1. The Cardinals are ranked 13^th to begin the season.
 
The Bombers add non-conference battles during the month of April against William Smith on April 4, SUNY Geneseo on April 7, and Hamilton on April 19. The latter of those two will be played at Higgins Stadium.
 
The stretch run of the Empire 8 slate will be played predominately at home. IC hits the road to face Utica on Wednesday, April 12, but returns to South Hill for its final three in-conference games. The Bombers welcome Nazareth on Saturday, April 15, Houghton on Saturday, April 22, and Stevens for Senior Day on Saturday, April 29.