History will be made on the Massachusetts Maritime campus on March 12^th, as the Academy will welcome its 15^th varsity athletic program when Women’s Lacrosse makes its official debut.  Head Coach Julie Rigo, a former standout at Sandwich High and at Stonehill College, will guide the Buccaneers on their maiden voyage this spring, as she welcomes in 18 individuals to a roster set to compete in the New England Women’s Lacrosse Alliance.

After serving as a club program for the past three years, Massachusetts Maritime embarks on a 15-match varsity slate in 2012, which begins on Monday, March 12^th at Clean Harbors Stadium when the Buccaneers entertain Simmons in a non-league encounter that begins at 7:00 p.m. EST.  Rigo, who came to the Academy after a stint as the Head Girls’ Lacrosse Coach at Bourne High School, has a solid balance of upper and underclassmen in the fold, as three seniors, six juniors, three sophomores and six freshman dot the inaugural roster.

Juniors Briana Bergstrom (Quincy, Mass./Quincy) and Sarah Derrane (Utica, N.Y./New Hartford), sophomores Hillary Doucette (Manchester, Mass./Manchester-Essex) and Shawna-Leigh Morton (Reading, Mass./Reading) as well as freshmen Elise LaBonte (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) and Deb Langley (Abington, Mass./South Shore Voke) comprise the attack position for Massachusetts Maritime this spring, while the senior trio of Julie Shebroe (Little Falls, N.J./Passaic Valley), Shauna Callinan (West Falmouth, Mass./Falmouth) and Kerri Conway (West Springfield, Mass./West Springfield) head the troops at midfield along with junior Kim Courcy (Warwick, R.I./Warwick), sophomore Lisa Burke (Hanson, Mass./Whitman-Hanson) and freshmen Laura Marin (West Yarmouth, Mass./Cape Cod Tech) and Jillian Petrarca (Manutuck, R.I./South Kingstown).

On the defensive side, Rigo will look to juniors Anna Whittemore (Weatogue, Conn./Simsbury) and Suzanne Marino (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) to lead the way along with sophomore Jenelle Piche (Coventry, R.I./Coventry) and freshman Kelsey Lombardi (Forestdale, Mass./Upper Cape Tech), while the goalkeeping duo of junior Shelagh Hogan (North Andover, Mass./North Andover) and Tenley Gillett (Manchester, N.H./Culver Academy) look to provide a solid last line of defense for the Buccaneers.

Massachusetts Maritime will play eight of its matches at home during its inaugural season, as the Buccaneers will also entertain UMass Dartmouth, Daniel Webster and Husson in a non-league play while welcoming Becker, Westfield State, Bridgewater State and Fitchburg State to Clean Harbors Stadium in NEWLA action.