Season Review: Records fall as Gulls complete banner season
SALISBURY, Md. – Over the past four years the Salisbury University women's lacrosse team has ranked among the nation's elite. The 2007 Sea Gulls were no different as they broke school-record after school-record en route to arguably one the greatest seasons in the program’s history.

Salisbury advanced to the national championship game for only the second time in school history where they finished as runner-up to Franklin & Marshall. The Sea Gulls' appearance in the final four was the third in the past four years and only the fourth time SU had made it to the round of four. SU in the past three years has finished its season in the national title game twice (2005, '07).

"It was a great year overall. It's hard to complain when you play for the national title," said SU coach Jim Nestor. "After graduating 13 players from last year's team we weren't sure what to expect with the players we had, but it's safe to say we did exceed expectations."

After winning the program's fifth straight Capital Athletic Conference title, Salisbury hosted its fifth consecutive NCAA regional where it advanced to the national semifinals with wins over Washington and Lee and Colorado College.

The Sea Gulls finished with a 21-2 record, a No. 2 ranking in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association poll and five single-season team records.

Salisbury set the record for wins in a season (21), total games played (23), most goals scored (376), most assists (195) and total points (571). SU also tied the school record for fewest goals allowed in a game with its 22-0 shutout win over Marymount (Va.) on March 14.

SU finished its season as the third ranked scoring offense in the country with a 16.36 goals per game average, the eighth ranked scoring defense with a 6.83 goals per game average and the third ranked scoring margin at 9.52 goals.

In addition to the team's success, Salisbury received individual accolades not only on the conference level but the national level as well. The Sea Gulls placed five on the All-CAC team, six on the All-Chesapeake Region team and four on the All-American squad.

Junior Sue Ackermann was the leader for Salisbury all season long as she was name CAC Player of the Year as well as a first-team selection to the All-CAC, All-Chesapeake Region and All-American team. Ackermann posted one of the greatest single-season efforts in school history as she became the first player in six years to reach the century mark for points in a season.

"She follows right in line of her sister [Linda Ackermann, 2002-05] as far as being a great leader on and off the field," said Nestor. "She is a student of the game and a very unselfish player."

The Sykesville, Md. native registered 119 points on 51 goals and 68 assists. Her total points and assists is the second highest single-season total in school history in those respected categories while her season goal total is the sixth best mark from a Sea Gull.

With one season of eligibility left, Ackermann already ranks third in school history in career assists (79), sixth in career points (169) and 13th in career goals (90). Ackermann also became the first Salisbury women's lacrosse player to be added to the Tewaarton Award watch list which is awarded the top lacrosse player in country in all divisions.

Seniors Stephanie Shores and Natalie Degele were not to be outdone by Ackermann as both attackers had a season to remember. Shores was named second-team All-CAC, first-team All-Chesapeake Region and third-team All-American while Degele earned second-team All-Chesapeake Region honors.

Shores finished with a team-high 59 goals which is the fifth highest single-season total in school history and most goals in a season since 2001. She also finished with the 10th best single-season point total with 75 and rounded out her career ranked 21st on the career goal list (78). Shores was named to the South roster in the annual North-South All-Start game where she netted one goal.

Degele quietly ranked second on the team in total points, assists and third on the team goals. Her 47 goals is the 10th best single-season total, her 35 assists is the eighth best single-season total and her 82 points is the seventh highest single-season total in school history. Degele finished her career ranked 11th all-time as a Sea Gull in career assists (50) and 16th in career points (114).

"It was nice to see these two seniors [Shores and Degele] have such a great year," said Nestor. "What they accomplished goes to show their hard work."

Fellow seniors, Katie Simmons and Ani Khatchatoorian, also received individual recognition for the season.

Simmons was a first team selection to the All-CAC, All-Chesapeake Region and All-American team. She was the most potent goal scorer from the midfield as she led midfielders in goals and points with 35 and 44 each, respectively. Simmons also ranked second on the team in caused turnovers with 28. The Silver Spring, Md. native joined shores on the South roster as she had an All-Star game high two points on a goal and assist. Simmons' 82 career goals is the 16th highest total in school history.

Khatchatoorian earned a place on the second-team All-CAC and first-team All-Chesapeake Region at midfield as she scored 24 goals and added three assists. Her career total of 71 goals ranks her 25th on Salisbury all-time career goal list. She also caused 17 turnovers and corralled 26 groundballs.

Kelly Phillips joined Ackermann and Simmons as a first-team member on the All-CAC, All-Chesapeake Region and All-American team. The junior defender caused 15 turnovers, scooped up 39 ground balls and controlled 27 draw controls. Phillips also garnered Salisbury’s second straight end of the year award as she was named Division III Defender of the Year. Last season, Kate Scott was named Attacker of the Year.

This is the ninth time in the past 11 years Salisbury has had someone on the All-American team and third straight year the Sea Gulls have had at least one first-team selection.

The Sea Gulls began the season ranked No. 7 in the IWLCA poll but quickly rose to the No. 3 position after they won their first 10 games. In that 10-game win streak, Salisbury beat the likes of then No. 2 Amherst, Colorado College and No. 4 Middlebury.

SU suffered its first set back of the season on March 31 in Lancaster, Pa. as they fell, 8-7, to No. 5 Franklin & Marshall. The Diplomats held Salisbury to a season low seven goals but SU bounced back with a 15-5 win over No. 18 Ursinus.

Losses around the nation placed Salisbury No. 2 in the IWLCA poll behind only F&M. The Sea Gulls rounded out the regular-season on a five-game win streak with wins over St. Mary’s (Md.), No. 18 Mary Washington and most notably No. 5 The College of New Jersey.

The Sea Gulls breezed through the CAC tournament where they successfully defended their title for the third straight year which earned themselves home field advantage in the NCAA Regionals.

Game of the Year

Salisbury had its share of dramatic wins this season. The Sea Gulls held Middlebury scoreless over the final nine minutes of the game to preserve an 11-10 win on March 27 and then again took down the Panthers, 8-7 in the NCAA Division III semifinals, to advance to the national championship game with a goal in the waning seconds but the game of the year was Salisbury’s 13-12 win over The College of New Jersey on April 14.

"It was nice to get the monkey off our backs once again," said Nestor. "Middlebury was a very good team each time we faced them but TCNJ has been our nemesis and it was such a thrilling victory."

The Sea Gulls trailed by three, 12-9, with just over nine minutes left in the game but rallied to score the final four goals of the game to defeat the Lions for only the second time in school history, first time since March 15, 2005.

Robyn Bishop tied the game at 12 with 1:26 left to set up the Degele game-winner. Degele drew a foul with 44-seconds left in the game to give her a free position shot on goal and a chance to win the game. Degele put home the game-winner with 42 seconds left to lift SU to the one goal win. Salisbury won the ensuing draw and ran out the clock.

A Look Ahead to Next Year

Salisbury will once again be the favorite to win the Capital Athletic Conference as its returns the core of its team. Ackermann is the lone starter returning on attack, but rising senior Alexis Morrell and sophomore-to-be Beth Rhodey played valuable minutes. Morrell and Rhodey combined to score 40 goals and dish out 17 assists; the highest totals among non-starters on attack.

The midfield will be one of the strengths of the team. Senior-to-be Jessica Liston will be joined by rising junior Jessica Chmielewski to lead the charge. Liston will be the leading returning goal scorer from the midfield after she netted 23 goals. Chmielewski added 22 of her own goals and led the team in caused turnovers with 29.

Rising junior Robyn Bishop, who spearheaded the squad to a top 15 ranking in draw controls, will return with her team-high 59 draw controls and 44 ground balls.

Phillips will anchor the defensive unit that returns almost intact. Sophomores-to-be Maddie Goetz and Jess Glazer each started at least nine games and with the players coming in, Nestor believes the unit should be a strong point.

Nestor will have three goalies with experience to choose from next year. Junior-to-be Sonja Stuart made the final five starts of the season and compiled a goals against average just over eight a game (8.35), rising sophomore Natalie Pappas started 14 games on the year and posted a 6.51 goals against average and rising sophomore Erin Will started the first four games of the year and had a 5.13 goals against average.

"Once again we lose a lot of talented players," said Nestor. "We need to replace two valuable seniors at the midfield and attack, but we had a lot of players get valuable minutes this season."

The Sea Gulls will take a 32-game regular season home winning streak into 2008 as they will aim for the NCAA Division III national championship.