Veteran Leadership, Experience Will Usher In Palombo Era As Women's Lacrosse Looks For Continued Success This Spring
A new era begins this spring for the Massachusetts Maritime women’s lacrosse team, as Buccaneer Hall of Famer Marc Palombo takes the reins as head coach after serving as an assistant during the last four seasons. Palombo has played a major role in the continued growth and development of the program since its infant varsity days of 2012, and he will welcome back an experienced squad that includes 11 letterwinners and nine starters for the 2017 campaign.
Leadership and commitment are two intangibles that have played a large part in building the foundation of the Buccaneer program, and Palombo will look to seniors Kianna Carpenter (Sagamore Beach, Mass./Bourne) and Ashley Solari (Sandwich, Mass./Sandwich), along with junior Mikayla Correia (Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth), to continue that tradition as Massachusetts Maritime’s tri-captains this season. Palombo, a two-sport standout in lacrosse and football at the Academy back in the mid ‘70’s, said that he “has had the privilege of watching Ashley, Kianna and Mikayla grow and develop both on and off the field over the last three years, and their leadership has helped our program grow over that time span. I know they will fully engage their teammates in creating a positive example and work ethic that will drive us to achieving our goals going forward.”
Here’s a look at how things are shaping up for the 2017 edition of Buccaneer Women’s Lacrosse:
ATTACK. Junior Stephanie Hunt (Brookfield, Conn./Brookfield) leads the way up front for Massachusetts Maritime after posting a record-setting season a year ago with 43 goals and 20 assists for 63 points, as she has already surpassed the 100 career point plateau (80 goals, 36 assists) in just 28 contests. Solari also shined on attack for the Buccaneers with 20 tallies and 17 helpers for 37 points, while fellow seniors Christina Murphy (Forestdale, Mass./Sandwich) and Dahlia Seggelin (Sharon, Mass./Sharon) lend additional valuable experience after posting 26 and 19 points, respectively. Murphy finished third in the scoring race with 19 goals and seven assists, while Seggelin chipped in with eight markers and 11 helpers while leading the squad with 61 draw controls. Freshman Cammi Balentine (Haverhill, Mass./Pentucket Regional) will also be vying for time in the Buccaneer attack unit as a rookie this spring.
MIDFIELD. Senior Stephanie O’Connor (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) and sophomore Meghan Petruzziello (Malden, Mass./Malden) lead the way in the middle for Palombo, as the duo combined for nine goals and six assists for 15 points. The return of junior Brianna Pingree (Mashpee, Mass./Mashpee) from an injury that limited her to just one contest a year ago bolsters Massachusetts Maritime’s midfield corps as well.
DEFENSE. Carpenter leads a veteran Buccaneer defensive unit, as she notched 33 ground balls and caused 22 turnovers last season. Fellow senior Cassandra Charpentier (New Bedford, Mass./Greater New Bedford Voke) started all 14 contests as well in 2016 and registered 14 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers, while sophomore Erica Overstreet (Bridgewater, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham) moves over to the defensive side from midfield where she ranked fourth on the Buccaneer scoring list as a rookie with 20 goals and five assists for 25 points. Freshman Heather Seggelin (Sharon, Mass./Sharon) joins her sister Dahlia on this year’s squad looking to impact on the defensive corps.
GOALIE. Correia is back as a solid last line of defense for Palombo, as she recorded four victories and 134 saves in 13 contests a year ago. Correia has started in 24 of 27 matches during her career and enters her junior campaign with 265 career saves.
SCHEDULE. Massachusetts Maritime will embark on a 15-match regular season schedule in 2017, as the Buccaneers will host UMass Dartmouth, Regis, Simmons, Becker and Elms in non-league play while entertaining Salem State, Worcester State, Bridgewater State and Framingham State in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference action. Palombo’s squad will travel to Maine Maritime for the Third Annual Maritime Classic on March 11-12 before heading to Coast Guard for a non-league clash, and Massachusetts Maritime will venture to Westfield State, MCLA and Fitchburg State for MASCAC outings.
The Marc Palombo era begins on Sunday, March 5th when the Buccaneers entertain UMass Dartmouth in a battle for pirate supremacy at Clean Harbors Stadium at Noon EST.
