GAME NOTES |
VIDEO PREVIEW |
LIVE VIDEO |
LIVE STATS
KENNESAW, Ga. - A new chapter in the history of the Kennesaw State Department of Athletics will be made this week when the women’s lacrosse team makes its program debut as the University’s17th Division I sport. The Owls, under first-year head coach Kristina Llanes, travel to Nashville, Tenn., to take on Vanderbilt (0-1) at the Vanderbilt Lacrosse Complex Sunday at 2 p.m. (ET).
Since her hiring on May 30, 2012, Llanes has spent the last eight and a half months on the recruiting trail securing players for the team’s inaugural season that opens with a contest against the Commodores. She also was successful in building a foundation for the future by signing 12 talented players to letters-of-intent during the early signing period in November.
"It’s been a challenge to put together a solid group of girls but we’ve been working really hard and they’ve stayed consistent and consistently gotten better," Llanes said. "Now we’re ready to compete. We’re ready to have the reward of competition."
LIVE COVERAGE: Sunday’s program opener can be watched live on the internet at www.vcucommodores.com. Live stats also will be available at www.commodores.com.
A LOOK AT VANDERBILT: Vanderbilt opened its season last Sunday at Atlantic Sun Conference opponent Jacksonville and fell 15-7 to the Dolphins. The Commodores are coming off an 8-8 season, including a 1-4 record and fourth place finish in the American Lacrosse Conference, in 2012.
LLANES SIGNS 12 DURING EARLY SIGNING PERIOD: While preparing for the inaugural 2013 season, Llanes also has been out on the recruiting trail in an effort to lay the foundation for the future. The time on the road proved to be successful as she signed 12 players during November’s early signing period. The group will help comprise the 2014 Owls team includes: Madison Christian (Attack/Midfielder; Serverna Park, Md.; Serverna Park HS), Samantha Farwick (Attack; Columbus, Ohio; Upper Arlington HS), Sydney Farwick (Midfielder, Attack; Columbus, Ohio; Upper Arlington HS), Olivia Hokanson (Attack; Crofton, Md.; South River HS), Taylor McGhee (Midfield; Marietta, Ga.; Sprayberry HS), Maci Murdock (Goalie; Powder Springs, Ga.; Hillgrove HS), Megan Nicholetti (Attack; Cumming, Ga.; North Forsyth HS), Katherine Ocheda (Defense; Perry Hall, Md.; Institute of Notre Dame), Haley O’Donoghue (Attack; North Tustin, Calif.; Foothill HS), Lyndsay Parris (Midfield; Grayson, Ga.; Grayson HS), Adrianna Smith (Midfield/Attack; Lebanon, Ohio; Lebanon HS) and Megan Tobias (Defense; Abingdon, Md.; Mercy HS).
EIGHT NEW PROGRAMS DEBUT IN 2013: Kennesaw State is one eight Division I institutions that is beginning its first season of women’s lacrosse in 2013. The seven other programs include Campbell, Coastal Carolina, Delaware State, Marquette, USC, Stetson and Winthrop. Four of those teams (Campbell, Coastal Carolina, Stetson and Winthrop) are on the Owls’ schedule this year.
Kennesaw State is celebrating 30 years of intercollegiate athletics during the 2012-13 academic year.
