After posting the highest single-season win total in the program’s young history last spring, the Massachusetts Maritime women’s lacrosse team is looking to reach even greater heights under the guidance of third-year Head Coach Leslie Bushy in 2015.  And with 13 letterwinners and nine starters returning for the upcoming campaign, it’s easy to see why excitement abounds for the Buccaneers heading into the new season.

Leadership has played a large role in the development of the program since its varsity inception in 2012, and Bushy will look to four of her players to provide that positive example both on and off the field of play, as seniors Jenelle Piche (Coventry, R.I./Coventry) and Deb Langley (Abington, Mass./South Shore Voke), along with juniors Janine Prokscha (Washington, Conn./Gunnery Prep) and Molly Smith (Westwood, Mass./Westwood), will serve as Massachusetts Maritime’s captains this season.

“The foundation that has been created for the program over the last three years has been made possible by the leadership and example that these four young women have provided to their teammates on the field and in the campus community off of it,” Bushy, a former standout at Division II Bentley, says of her captains.  “Their determination, enthusiasm and hard work will undoubtedly play a key role in our success this season.”

Here’s a look at how things are shaping up for the 2015 edition of Buccaneer Women’s Lacrosse:

ATTACK.  Smith leads the way up front for Massachusetts Maritime after netting 11 goals and four assists for 15 points a year ago, while sophomore Christina Murphy (Forestdale, Mass./Sandwich) added six markers and five helpers for 11 points during her inaugural collegiate campaign in 2014.  Sophomore Stephanie O’Connor (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) chipped in with a pair of goals and two assists for four points for the Buccaneers, while junior Jenna Breault (Buzzards Bay, Mass./Bourne) and sophomores Sinead McNaboe (Leicester, Mass./St. Peter-Marian) and Brianna Kearney (Sandwich, Mass./Sandwich) lend additional experience at the attack spot after combining for 21 appearances and 15 starts last spring.  Freshman Brianna Pingree (Mashpee, Mass./Mashpee) will also be vying for a spot up front during her rookie campaign.

MIDFIELD.  The middle certainly serves as the strength for Bushy’s crew heading into the 2015 slate, as Prokscha and sophomore Ashley Solari (Sandwich, Mass./Sandwich) anchor the midfield corps after combining for 28 goals and 14 assists for 42 points last season.  Sophomore Dahlia Seggelin (Sharon, Mass./Sharon) added 12 goals and four assists for 16 points for Massachusetts Maritime, which also received six markers and a helper from fellow sophomore Kianna Carpenter (Sagamore Beach, Mass./Bourne).  Freshmen Monica Chilcot (Plymouth, Mass./Sturgis) and Stephanie Hunt (Brookfield, Conn./Brookfield) will also be vying for roles in the Buccaneer midfield during their rookie campaigns.

DEFENSE.  Piche returns to anchor Bushy’s defensive corps, as she added a goal and five assists for six points on the offensive side.  Sophomore Melissa Harris (Scituate, Mass./Scituate) tallied twice and added a pair of assists for four points for the Buccaneers, who also received a pair of helpers to go with six caused turnovers and 20 ground balls from fellow sophomore Cassandra Charpentier (New Bedford, Mass./Greater New Bedford Voke).  Freshman Jamie Hayes (Stonington, Conn./Stonington) will also look to contribute on the defensive side for Massachusetts Maritime this spring.

GOAL.  Langley returns as the Buccaneers’ last line of defense after a year’s hiatus, as she made a school-record 176 saves while leading Massachusetts Maritime to a berth in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference playoffs in 2013.  Freshman Mikayla Correia (Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth) will be vying for time in the cage for Bushy as well during her inaugural collegiate season.

SCHEDULE.  Massachusetts Maritime will embark on a 15-match schedule this spring, as the Buccaneers will host Simmons, Wheelock and Elms in non-league play as well as Bridgewater State, Salem State and Worcester State in MASCAC action.  Bushy’s crew will visit Coast Guard, Mitchell and Wheelock in non-conference clashes and will also travel to MCLA, Westfield State, Framingham State and Fitchburg State in MASCAC play.  Additionally, the Buccaneers will compete in the inaugural Maritime Classic during the opening weekend of the season in early March.

The fourth season of Massachusetts Maritime women’s lacrosse begins on Saturday, March 14^th when the Buccaneers take on rival Maine Maritime in an Admiral’s Cup clash that will take place at SUNY-Maritime in Throggs Neck, N.Y. beginning at 11:00 a.m. EDT.