WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University women's lacrosse team is set to begin its 2022 season on Saturday under the direction of new head coach Amber McCarver.

The Colonels finished the pandemic-shortened 2021 season with a 2-5 record in the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) and a 2-8 record overall.

"I am very excited and I know my team is as well," McCarver said. "Starting out I saw that they have a lot of raw potential and talent and we implemented a lot of different frameworks and tools into their playing style that will really make them shine. I am excited for everyone to see that on Saturday on offense, defense, and even in transitions."

The Colonels roster consists of 24 players with eight seniors, four juniors, seven sophomores, and five first years.

The four captains, seniors Domenica Lerch (Northampton, PA/Northampton), Camryn Devitt (Northampton, PA/Northampton), and Laura Bayzick (Hazleton, PA/Hazleton Area) along with junior Brooklyn Pedana (Pittston, PA/Pittston Area) have carried their terrific leadership from the fall when they did not have a coach over to the spring according to McCarver.

Senior goalkeeper Ashley Coughlin (Northampton, PA/Northampton) leads the defense very well according to McCarver.

"She has taken the two new goalies under her wing and is pushing them and making them better," McCarver said of Coughlin who made 88 saves last season.

Devitt led the Colonels a year ago with 14 goals and was second on the team with 15 points. Lerch led Wilkes with 17 points on 12 goals and five assists. Bayzick was second on the team with 10 goals and Pedana was fifth on the team with eight points.

Senior midfielder and face-off specialist Savannah Bauman (Effort, PA/Pleasant Valley) returns after scoring five goals for the Colonels in five games played last season including four during an 8-7 win at Arcadia. Allyson Joly (Lincoln, RI/The Tilton School) on attack and defenders Jessica White (Willow Grove, PA/Upper Moreland) and Laurel Hopfer (Monroe Twp., PA/Tunkhannock) make up the rest of the experienced senior class.

The junior class is made of defensive players with Bianka Melendez (New Oxford, PA/New Oxford), Abby Miller (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas), and Keara Dugey (Kunkletown, PA/Pleasant Valley). Returning sophomores Taylor Quackenbush (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Hills) and Ryley Kirk (Belmar, NJ/Manasquan) return on defense, Caitlin McDonough (Exeter, PA/Wyoming Area) is back in the midfield, and Maleah Cobham (Westbury, NY/W.T. Clarke), Sydney Bernardi (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady), and Breanne Fulling (Hyde Park, NY/Franklin D. Roosevelt) will be back on attack with Fulling also playing in the midfield as needed.

Sophomore newcomer Carley Yuhas (Wyoming, PA/Wyoming Area) will join the team in the midfield and on defense with McCarver saying that she possesses so much speed and that she is excited to see her in the midfield this season.

"We have a lot of talented and good newcomers to the team this year," McCarver commented.

Sam Mullen (Dover, PA/York Catholic) and Lizzie Carter (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown Area) join the Colonels on attack as first year players with McCarver excited for Mullen's shot saying that she is, "excited to see her drive and take those shots."

Alexis Guttilla (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph by-the-Sea) in the midfield along with goalkeepers Samantha Scott (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley) and Courtney Mallon (Harleysville, PA/Souderton Area) round out the first years on the roster to add depth to the 2022 team at those positions.

The 2022 season gets underway on Saturday at Schmidt Stadium as the Colonels host Mount Saint Mary College (NY) at 1:00 p.m. The Colonels then play six more non-conference games before starting their MAC Freedom schedule on Wednesday, March 30 at Delaware Valley.

"We have a tough schedule leading into the start of our conference games," McCarver said. "We do have a tough conference for our team but I think the challenge is something we are ready for and you get better from a challenge so hopefully we can learn a lot and grow from that."