“Unity in strength.”
According to head coach Stephanie Allen, this will be the motto of the Binghamton women’s lacrosse team in 2016, whose season is set to kick off on Sunday night. Following a 6-11 campaign in 2015, including a 1-5 mark in the America East, the Bearcats were picked to finish sixth out of seven teams in the conference preseason poll. But for Allen, the only number that matters to her squad is 30.
“We focused on the number 30,” Allen said. “That’s the number of players that we have on this team right now and the fact that it’s going to take 30 young ladies to help us accomplish our goals.”
Eight freshmen joined BU’s 2016 roster, including four new additions to the midfield. Despite losing mainstay midfielder Renee Kiviat, the Bearcats were largely spared of the drop in members normally caused by graduation — returning much of their core from last season. Among the top returners for BU is junior midfielder Callon Williams, who tallied 22 goals and seven assists in 2015.
“It’s definitely something different,” Williams said. “Our juniors and seniors have really learned how to play well together. A couple of our returning sophomores who have a few more games under their belt will just mesh better this year.”
On BU’s attacking end, senior Sophia Racciatti and junior Brianne Arthur are set to return after combining for 66 points last season.
“I think that the leadership that we have on the field and off of the field this year has really been key to our growth,” Allen said. “For us offensively to have some key returners back in the lineup, I think that really just helps better those around them, especially those who have a little bit less experience.”
In the backfield, senior goaltender Erin McNulty is set to make her return to the cage after averaging 7.23 saves in 17 starts last year. Defender Allie Rodgers will also be returning for her senior campaign after creating a team-high 26 turnovers along with 33 ground balls in her junior season. Binghamton’s offense and defense are sure to be tested this season as it is set to face four teams in the top 20, including a season opener at third-ranked Syracuse.
“It’s really important that our non-conference games prepare us for what we’re going to see in conference,” Allen said. “Albany being ranked in the top 20, Stony Brook certainly getting some high rankings in the top five or top 10 … we really got to do our best to prepare our players.”
Members of the team’s senior class have only captured three total wins in the America East over three seasons and have never reached the conference postseason tournament. While success past the regular season has long been a goal for the Bearcats, Allen is using 2016 to take a new approach.
“For us, it’s what we’re doing each and every moment, trying not to look too far down the road,” Allen said. “I think in years past, we put a lot of stock in conference play or making it to postseason and to be honest, we’ve really scratched that this year. We’re focused on practice-by-practice and game-by-game.”
Binghamton is set to open its season against Syracuse on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. from the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York.