We are mere days away from the opening day of the 2021 Division I women’s lacrosse season — and it feels good to be back.
VCU and Old Dominion kick off the campaign on Friday at 1 p.m. Eastern. And while it’s thrilling to revel in the joys of a new beginning, we must remember (maybe more now than ever) that we shouldn’t project too far ahead.
In a college sports landscape still dealing with COVID-19 to varying degrees, nothing is guaranteed. Let’s enjoy what’s in store this weekend and take the rest as it comes.
There are plenty of storylines this season, and with perhaps the most anticipated lacrosse season in history on the horizon, let’s take a look at what’s to come from A to Z.
A is for the ACC.
Just take a look at the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Women’s Preseason Top 20. Seriously. (Also, make sure you bookmark our rankings hub for updated Top 20s every Monday). Three of the top four teams are from the ACC, with North Carolina at No. 1, Notre Dame at No. 2 and Syracuse at No. 3. Duke (No. 15), Boston College (No. 17), Virginia (No. 18) and Virginia Tech (No. 20) also make appearances. No matter what happens this spring, there’s a good chance an ACC team or two will have a hand in what’s to come.
B is for Angie Benson.
Speaking of Virginia Tech, Angie Benson provided an instant boost to the Hokies in 2020. Sure, we didn’t get to see just how far the goalkeeper would take her new team, but she most certainly was a force through 10 games. She was second in the nation in GAA (7.38), and she made 83 saves — including four games with 10 or more.
C is for Lizzie Colson.
Maryland was an uncharacteristic 3-3 when the season was canceled, as Cathy Reese’s program was incredibly young. Reese and the Terps sorely missed defender Lizzie Colson, who tore her ACL on June 13, 2019, training with the U.S. women’s national team, redshirted last year. Back for another shot at a national championship, Colson is an instant difference-maker on defense — especially as Maryland copes with the loss of Emma Schettig, who transferred to Notre Dame following a freshman year in which she earned some postseason All-American recognition.
D is for Draw Dominators.
Three draw-takers — Caitlyn Petro of UMass, Maddie Jenner of Duke and Brennan Dwyer of Northwestern — can single-handedly alter the course of a game. Momentum so often lies within the confines of the draw circle, and the aforementioned women are a step above the rest at the position. Arden Tierney of Richmond is an up-and-comer at the position, and don’t overlook Stony Brook’s Ally Kennedy. She might be the best in the business at coming off the circle and securing possession.
E is for Sarah Elms.
The senior Jacksonville attacker might have fallen off some radars after missing the 2019 season. As a freshman in 2018, she was a unanimous first-team All-ASUN selection posted 63 goals and 17 assists. She came back in 2020, starting all four games and dropping 18 goals, ranking fourth in the nation in goals per game. Jacksonville’s dangerous offense can cause problems, and Elms is one of the key cogs.
F is for fewer games.
This seems self-explanatory. In this COVID-altered landscape, this won’t necessarily be the same lacrosse season we’ve grown accustomed to watching. Whether it be due to contact tracing or actual positive test results, games are bound to either be postponed or — more likely — outright canceled.