GANNON LACROSSE SEASON OPENER

GANNON (5-12 in 2022) AT NO. 20 ROBERTS WESLEYAN (2-1)

WHEN: Friday (Postponed) STORY

WHERE: Redhawk Field, Rochester, N.Y.


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ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon University women's lacrosse program took a big step in 2022 by significantly boosting its win total over the previous season.

Head coach Jennifer Pawlowski's Gannon team will look to make another big step this season.

The good news for the Golden Knights is that their top four scorers return to the lineup.

Of course, they will have to start the season against a highly competitive schedule featuring two top-20 opponents in the first two games. Gannon will open against No. 20 Roberts Wesleyan on Friday before traveling to Florida to face No. 16 Embry-Riddle on Tuesday in Daytona Beach.

Gannon returns plenty of offensive firepower in juniors Macy Hepditch (Waterloo, Ontario/Resurrection Catholic) and McKenna Woodworth (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads), sophomore Caroline Stevens (Syracuse, N.Y./Liverpool), and senior Alli Jacobs (Eden, N.Y./Eden), who were the top four scorers in the 2022 lineup. Hedpitch, Woodworth, and Stevens each paced Gannon in one key offensive category.

The Golden Knights also have some defensive experience returning with Alexandra Kehrig (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport), Lauren Squires (Big Flats, N.Y./Horseheads), and Emma Uhrig (Waterloo, Ontario/Kitchener Waterloo Collegiate).

 
HEAD COACH

Jennifer Pawlowski enters her fourth season as Gannon's head coach after posting five victories in 2022, a marked improvement from the 1-11 record from 2021. She will have some experience returning at key positions on both ends of the field in 2023. The 2022 team also displayed showed dramatic improvement by averaging more than 11 goals per game with a season-high of 23. Gannon will look to up that average this season.
For the fourth straight year, Pawlowski will be assisted by Casey Hickman.
 
TOP RETURNEES

Here's a look at Gannon's key returnees this season:
 
ATTACK/MIDFIELD
 
McKenna Woodworth (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads): The 5-foot-1 attacker led the Golden Knights with 51 points, and placed second with 40 goals and 11 assists. The former PSAC Freshman of the Year has 80 goals in two seasons after scoring 40 goals in each of her first two years. She is three points shy of 100 in her college career. Woodworth was Gannon's most active offensive player with 105 shots and 86 shots on goal in 2022.

Macy Hepditch (Waterloo, Ontario/Resurrection Catholic): The 5-foot-7 midfielder paced Gannon with 14 assists, placed second on the team with 46 points, and ranked third with 32 goals. She had seven goals in one game against Slippery Rock last season. She was voted All-PSAC Second Team last season.

Caroline Stevens (Syracuse, N.Y./Liverpool): The 5-foot-9 midfielder led the Golden Knights with 41 goals as a freshman in 2022 and placed second on the team with 45 points. She was an All-PSAC Second Team selection last season. She had 12 multi-goal games as a freshman, including a pair of five-goal games.      

Alli Jacobs (Eden, N.Y./Eden): The 5-foot-7 midfielder elevated her game as a junior in 2022 with career highs of 26 goals and 27 assists while starting all 17 games. She had eight multi-goal games, including two four-goal games.



 
DEFENSE
 
Lauren Squires (Big Flats, N.Y./Horseheads): The 5-foot-8 midfielder/defender played in all 17 games with 10 starts. She collected 13 ground balls and added seven caused turnovers. 

Emma Uhrig (Waterloo, Ontario/Kitchener Waterloo Collegiate): The 5-foot-9 defenders started all 17 games as a sophomore. She grabbed 26 ground balls  and caused 19 turnovers.

Alexandra Kehrig (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport): After a strong freshman season with 24 ground balls, she was limited to just five games last season. She looks to remain healthy and in the lineup this season.

"We are excited to be anchored in experience on the defensive end in returning junior defenders Alexandra Kehrig (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport), Lauren Squires (Big Flats, N.Y./Horseheads), and Emma Uhrig (Waterloo, Ontario/Kitchener Waterloo Collegiate)," Pawlowski said.
 
GOALIE

After the graduation of senior goalie Cheyenne Jess (Stratford, N.J./Sterling), Pawlowski said Gannon will have a "fresh look" in goal this season.

The goalie duties will be handled by sophomore Haleigh Manning (Milton, Ga./Cambridge), and freshman Riley Finnegan (Oviedo, Fla./Oviedo), who both see their first collegiate action this season.

A LOOK AT ROBERTS WESLEYAN

The Redhawks are 2-1 after a 13-4 rout of Lenoir-Rhyne on Wednesday evening in Hickory, N.C.

Sophomore attacker Annie Mulhall led Roberts Wesleyan with five goals. It was the third consecutive game with at least three goals for the 5-foot-8 Mulhall, who leads the Redhawks with 12 goals and 14 points. Sophomore attacker Emma Blumenstock has nine goals and 10 points.

Roberts Wesleyan opened the season with a 13-7 home win over Georgian Court on Feb. 17 and followed with a 19-11 road loss to No. 25 Mount Olive on Feb. 20.
 
KEY DATES
 
Season opener: Friday, Feb. 24, 5 p.m.: at Roberts Wesleyan
 
Spring break trip:
Tuesday, Feb. 28: vs. Embry-Riddle, at Daytona Beach, Fla.
Friday, March 3: vs. Florida Tech, at Melbourne, Fla.
 
Home opener, PSAC opener: Wednesday, March 15, 4 p.m.: vs. IUP
 
Senior Day, regular-season finale: Saturday, April 29, 5 p.m.: vs. Edinboro

PRESEASON POLL

Gannon was voted sixth among seven teams in the PSAC West. The Golden Knights placed sixth in the division last season.