Very rarely does a coach resign in the weeks leading up to a season, but Tony Zostant relinquished his position at the helm of Binghamton’s women’s lacrosse team on Jan. 22, thrusting Stephanie Allen into the role, albeit with an interim tag.

Allen has been the top assistant for the Bearcats since 2008, specializing primarily in defense and midfield play in her tenure under Zostant.

Since she is an expert in midfield play — in addition to her coaching experience, she played the position at Limestone College — Allen said focusing on offense wouldn’t be “something that is new.”

She said that she looks to “bring innovativeness and creativity to both the offense and defensive unit,” and she is “really excited about the direction this program is heading.”

The players are also excited about Allen advancing through the coaching ranks.

“I’m excited to see all the new things [Allen] has for us this season,” senior attack and captain Kimberly McGeever said. “She has already implemented a lot of things, especially for our offense.”

Among those changes, McGeever said the offense requires more player movement.

“Instead of just set plays, we have a lot more motion and getting girls all over the field, whether it be the middies switching down to the attack position [or] vice versa,” she said.

Changes are often accompanied with concern, especially after an unsuccessful season — the Bearcats went 3-13 in 2012 — but McGeever said the team’s two preseason games have helped ingrain the new system.

“We all definitely picked up the new offense that coach Allen put in rather quickly, which is a really positive thing for us for the rest of the season,” she said.

But Allen and her offense are not the only changes the Bearcats have experienced since last season. The team features a group of newcomers, including eight freshmen and Onondaga Community College transfer Angela Vespa. Allen said the new additions should add depth to Binghamton’s roster, which returns eight starters from a year ago.

“On the attacking side, I think you are going to see some new faces out there, especially with [Vespa], who brings some experience to the field,” Allen said.

Vespa, a junior, earned NJCAA All-American Honors last season after leading the nation in assists and finishing fourth in points.

In addition to Vespa, Binghamton’s incoming class features the program’s highest-rated recruit. ESPN.com ranked freshman goalkeeper Erin McNulty No. 4 at her position and No. 37 overall. She is Binghamton’s first-ever top 50 signee. Allen said McNulty will be competing for a starting position with sophomore goalkeeper Kara Pafumi.

And McNulty likely won’t be the only freshman in line for a starting job in the early weeks. In the preseason, freshman midfielder Allie Rodgers acted as a “spark” for the team.

“We have kind of deemed [her] the ‘shifty’ one out on the field,” Allen said. “She goes out there and puts moves on players that, you know, are really unexpected with her small stature.”

Despite all these changes and new faces, Binghamton has had some trouble shaking a losing reputation. After going winless in conference play last season, the Bearcats were selected to finish last in the 2013 America East Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

Stony Brook, which lost in last year’s conference championship, topped the poll, while reigning champ Albany came in second.

“When people have doubt in you, it ignites something in your unit, in your team, in yourself,” Allen said. “I think that it’s something we’re ready to take this season and run with it. You know if they think that we are going to be picked last in the conference or not worthy of a playoff appearance, we are excited to prove everybody wrong.”

The Bearcats are set to open their season in Pa. on Saturday against St. Francis, which posted a 3-14 mark last season and dropped its season opener at Duquesne last Friday. Play is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Degol Field.