The William Smith College lacrosse team will open its 2009 season tomorrow, March 17, in Lake Lytal, Fla., when the Herons take on Messiah at 10 a.m. William Smith is ranked 17th in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association's (IWLCA) latest poll, after notching a 13-4 overall record last spring.

William Smith lost four key seniors to graduation in 2008; midfielder Rachel Stahl (33 goals-16 assists), defender Sarah Davidson (32-3), attacker Jesse McKenna (8-16), and goalie Morgan Baird (4-1-0, 11.88 GAA, .463 Sv%). The leadership they provided in 2008 will be greatly missed.

The Herons return 15 veterans from 2008, including three of their top five scorers, and add a solid first-year class of eight to the fold. All-Liberty League selections juniors Molly Fitzgerald (Gould Academy/Sudbury, Mass.) and Sarah Goodkind (Millbrook School/Greenwich, Conn.), along with senior Michaela Parnell (Guilford/Guilford, Conn.), come back to lead the offensive attack.

Here's a look at the 2009 William Smith squad by position:

Senior co-captains Torie Allen (The Governor's Academy/Dedham, Mass.) and Karin LeBlanc (Conard/West Hartford, Conn.) will anchor the defense. Allen led last year's team with 41 ground balls, 42 draw controls, and 26 caused turnovers, earning all-league first team honors in the process, while LeBlanc was close behind with 39 ground balls and 14 caused turnovers. Both started all 17 games for William Smith.

Also returning on defense will be junior Katie Harrington (Morristown-Beard/Bernardsville, N.J.), sophomores Kim Armani (Jordan Elbridge/Elbridge, N.Y.) and Keillan Lecky (Summit/Summit, N.J.), who combined for 31 ground balls, 16 caused turnovers, and six draw controls. First-year Megan Brophy (Kingswood-Oxford/Farmington, Conn.) has been strong in the preseason, and is slated as a probable starter for the Herons on Tuesday. Meanwhile, sophomore Francesca DeLuca (Masconomet/Topsfield, Mass.) will be added into the mix after she recovers from an illness that sidelined her during preseason, and first-year Amy Kacprowicz (Natick/Natick, Mass.) will compete for time on the low line.

Senior goalkeeper Rebecca Josefiak (West Seneca East/West Seneca, N.Y.) will once again be the last line of defense for the Herons. The All-Liberty League second team pick returns after earning a 9-3 record last season, and posting a 10.16 goals against average and a .491 save percentage in eight starts.

On attack, Fitzgerald, Goodkind, and Parnell are expected to lead the offense again. Fitzgerald topped the Liberty League in free position goals per game (1.00), and earned all-league second team after finishing the year ranked fourth in points per game (3.53). Goodkind, an honorable mention all-league pick, ranked fourth on the team in scoring with 32 goals and three helpers, while Parnell was fifth with 18 goals and nine assists. Fitzgerald collected 36 ground balls, won 26 draw controls, and caused 17 turnovers, while Goodkind and Parnell combined for 42 GBs and 41 draw controls.

Joining them on attack will be sophomores Alayna Beebe (Prout School/Newport, R.I.) and Cassie Findlay (Episcopal/Riverside, Conn.), and first-year Katherine Vesce (Cold Spring Harbor/Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.). Findlay played in all 17 games in 2008, registering 13 goals and five helpers, while Beebe saw action in five contests, tallying once.

The coaching staff is still in the process of forming combinations in the midfield, but one possible line features all first-years. Callie Frelinghuysen (Darien/Darien, Conn.), Lucy Johnson (Millburn/Short Hills, N.J.), Kathryn Gillan (Brookline/Brookline, Mass.), and Rosie Scheibel (Auburn/Auburn, N.Y.) are all vying to fill in the holes vacated by Stahl, Davidson, and McKenna, while junior Brittany Callaghan (St. Luke's School/Armonk, N.Y.), and sophomores Kara Grogan (Gunnery School/West Simsbury, Conn.) and Lexi Walston (Suffield Academy/Farmington, Conn.) will add veteran leadership to the position.

Callaghan started 12 of the 17 games she played in last season, recording 15 goals and five assists. She also won 20 draw controls and collected 14 GBs. Grogan played in all 17 contests as well, starting five (8 goals-2 assists, 20 GBs), while Walston saw time in 10 games (0-1, 2). Additionally, first-year Christine Abramo (Orchard Park/Orchard Park, N.Y.) will provide depth to the midfield.

William Smith will face a tough schedule this spring that features just five home contests and three ranked opponents, including two Liberty League foes. After facing non-conference opponent and 12th-ranked Cortland on April 1, the Herons will take on top-ranked Hamilton on April 10, and 10th-ranked Union on April 25, all on the road. William Smith will square off against St. John Fisher for its home-opener on March 24 at 4 p.m.