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Binghamton University Athletics

Hayley Weltner vs Pitt driving to goal
Jonathan Cohen

Women’s Lacrosse Set to Begin 2024 Season

| By: Anna Harris (aharris19@binghamton.edu)

Binghamton opens up competition against Drexel Saturday

VESTAL, N.Y. (BUBearcats.com) - The Binghamton University women's lacrosse team is set to begin the 2024 season against Drexel, Saturday at Bearcat Sports Complex. Game time is slated for 1 p.m. 

Last year, the Bearcats produced an historic season after being picked to finish fifth of seven in the conference preseason poll. The season ended one goal shy of an NCAA berth after a 14-13 loss at top-seed UAlbany in the America East Championship game. 

Allen and her coaching staff were voted America East Staff of the Year and Binghamton's record-breaking season included its first-ever title game appearance in 22 years, best conference record, 5-1, tournament seed, No. 2, most overall wins, 11, and most consecutive wins, seven. 

The Bearcats produced a program-record and conference-high eight All-Conference selections. Binghamton led the America East in points per game, 21.2,  was second in both scoring offense, 14.6, and scoring defense, 10.2.

"We've had a taste of being in that championship caliber setting and we want nothing other than to return to that place and turn the tables," Head Coach Stephanie Allen said.  

PRESEASON 

The Bearcats participated in four fall ball events last autumn. BU had the opportunity to compete against St. Joseph's, Monmouth, Rugters, Manhattan, Lehigh, Iona and Bucknell to prepare for the upcoming spring season 

"We got a good number of opportunities this fall to play higher level competition and learn to prepare for the spring in different ways," said Allen. "I felt that it was a very successful fall for us."

Binghamton was picked third in the America East preseason poll with 28 points and one first place vote. Reigning conference champion UAlbany took the top spot with 36 points and six first-place votes while Vermont followed with 29 points. Bryant and New Hampshire tied for fourth with 15 points apiece while UMBC and UMass Lowell rounded out the last two spots with 13 and 11 points, respectively. 

"Being picked third gives us a little fuel heading into conference season," said Allen. "We're still maybe not garnering the respect we want but we kind of like that position where we're still a little bit of the underdog." 

OFFENSE 

BU returns 2023 America East First Team selection Abigail Carroll to the Bearcat offense this season, along with Second Team honorees Olivia Muscolino, Kristen Scheidel and Hayley Weltner.

Last season, Carroll led all Bearcats in goals with 36 and the America East with 16 free position goals and 1.23 free position goals per game. The junior midfielder ranked among the top 10 in the America East in goals per game, shots, shots per game and draw controls per game. Caroll also set a Binghamton single season record for free position goals with 19. 

Muscolino ranked second on the team in points, goals and assists last year, landing within the top 10 in the conference in points. Scheidel ranked second among all Bearcats in draw controls, ground balls and caused turnovers, putting her within the top 10 performers in the America East in all three categories. 

Draw control specialist Hayley Weltner set a new Binghamton single-season record with 102 draw controls in 2023, shattering the previous record of 76 held by Katherine Hunsberger (2013) and Sofia Afkham (2022). Weltner ranked within the top 5 in the conference and top 40 in the nation in draw controls.  

Madison Murphy, Emma Conroy and Carla Curth also return to the Binghamton offense. Murphy competed in 17 games for Bingamton last season and recorded an impressive .813 shots on goal percentage along with 18 caused turnovers, 17 points and 11 goals 

Effective off the bench for BU, Conroy appeared in every game in 2023 and notched eight goals for an .800 shots on goal percentage. Curth saw action in 13 contests last year, adding three goals and an assist to the Bearcat total.  

"Carla came back this fall with increased speed, a lot of commitment to her stick work and shooting," Allen said. "She's somebody we're going to see really step up this year on the offensive end."

DEFENSE 

With the loss of 2023 America East Goalkeeper of the Year Emily Manning to graduation, senior captain Sofia Salgado will step into the Bearcats' starting position in goal. Salgado has seen action in six games for BU, making 14 saves. 

"Sofia has always been reliable in the net for us," said Allen. "This season she knew the opportunity was wide open and came into the school year with a newfound commitment to the role and being dependable for the defense and team in front of her." 

After she emerged as one of the premier defenders in the conference last season, AE First Team selection Angelina Suau returns to the field for BU. In 2023, Suau produced a team-high 39 caused turnovers, 2.29 caused turnovers per game, 46 ground balls and 2.70 ground balls per game. Suau currently ranks second in program history for career caused turnovers and sat within the top-15 in the nation in the category last season. 

Zoe Congdon and Gretel Cassell will return to the Bearcat defense as well this spring. Congdon started in all 17 games for Binghamton last season, recording 13 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers. Cassell appeared in clutch moments for BU last year, helping to quell UAlbany's offense in the America East Championship game. 

"Gretel owned the role in our championship game last season, she played fearlessly and really gave us an opportunity to win because of what she did," Allen said. "I think she's just someone who came in and is playing with a lot more confidence than ever." 

ON THE SCHEDULE 

Binghamton will compete in 16 games this spring, with nine of them to be played on home turf at the Bearcat Sports Complex. 

"We certainly appreciate being home more this season, it's always a positive to play in front of your home crowd," said Allen.

Starting with Drexel, the Bearcats will face 10 non-conference opponents over the course of the 2024 campaign. BU is set to see Temple, Marist, Colgate, Siena, Campbell, Coastal Carolina, Niagara, Cornell and Youngstown State during its non-conference slate. 

"Our team is excited about some new faces and variety in our non-conference schedule," Allen said. "We certainly have a good balance of challenging new teams and teams we've had tight games with in the past." 

The second half of Binghamton's season will be conference competition against UAlbany, UMass Lowell, Vermont, New Hampshire, UMBC and Bryant. 

"We've got a good lineup in our conference slate and with each team we face we've got something to prove," said Allen. "Our goal is nothing less than being right back in that championship game." 

 
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