Stanford lacrosse just keeps getting better Stanford lacrosse just keeps getting better (February 19, 2003)

Cardinal women looking to step up against national powers this season

by Rick Eymer

The Stanford women's lacrosse team has an impressive resume the past few years but its best years may lie ahead.

The Cardinal have won five consecutive conference championships, and in 2001 became the first team in the west to be ranked among the top 20.

While third-year coach Michele Uhlfelder feels good about Stanford's recent achievements, she doesn't want to stop there.

"We took a big step last year toward our goal," said Uhlfelder, who is 24-12 overall and 18-0 in the Western Women's and Mountain Pacific Lacrosse Leagues in her two seasons at Stanford. "In 2002 we steadily improved over the course of a schedule that was significantly tougher, and with a team who was significantly younger."

Now Uhlfelder wants to take on the national powers, and she can do so knowing she has an experienced group.

The Cardinal, which opened the season with a 12-8 win over host UC Davis last weekend as Nina Pantano scored three goals and had an assist, returns 15 letter-winners from last year's team that went 11-7 overall and 10-0 in the MPLL.

"I see this year as taking another big step," said Uhlfelder. "What is significant is that we've had a lot of young players play a lot of important minutes, and this year will continue that theme. I look for our team to be more mature and seasoned. Although we are still very young, we're much further along this year than we were at the same point last year. We are excited about what this team has the potential to accomplish, given the opportunities that our schedule affords us."

Stanford returns its top four scorers, a solid defensive core, an experienced goalkeeper, and a talented group of young attackers and midfielders.

"The defensive unit is the most experienced part of our team," said Uhlfelder. "Most of those players have played every have a big role in helping us get to where fast breaks account for three-quarters of our scoring."

Leading the returners are co-captains Kim Cahill and Larissa Conte. Cahill, a senior, has not played the past two years due to knee injuries. Conte, a junior, is one of the team's defensive anchors. She has played 36 games the past two years, starting 35.

"Larissa is very passionate about this team, and has great leadership qualities. Like our other defenders, she has been put in the position to mark some of the country's best attackers-this experience will be invaluable," said Uhlfelder.

Sophomore Kelsey Twist is expected to be one of the team's leaders at the midfield position. She started 18 games last season and led the team in goals (36), points (48), free-positions (17) and draw controls (41) -- all numbers that rank among the best single seasons in school history.

Junior Abbi Hills is another midfielder who has started 36 games the past two seasons and is among the school's all-time leaders in virtually every category. She has scored 53 goals and accounted for 67 points in her career.

The attack will be led by the Calzonetti twins -- Julia and Claire -- and junior Jess Scott. Julia Calzonetti led the team with 75 shots and was second in total points (36) and third in goals scored (28) last year. Claire Calzonetti was the team leader with 13 assists and fourth with 34 points, which included 21 goals.

Sophomores Amanda Pettit, Anthea Tjuanakis and Pantano, along with Conte and fellow junior Katie Grube, will form the nucleus of Stanford's defensive unit.

Stanford also welcomes seven freshmen: Megan Burker, Kate Horowitz, Kinsey Morrison, Cassie Harvey, Nyerr Parham, Sarah Bach, and Thea Lorentzen.

"This freshman class brings a lot of athleticism, talent, and depth as a whole," said Uhlfelder.