GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — The Tusculum University women’s lacrosse team is ready to begin its 2024 season when the Pioneers host Shorter on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at Pioneer Field.
The Pioneers return six starters and 10 players from last year’s squad that finished 7-9 overall and 4-6 in the South Atlantic Conference for head coach Jenna Agostino, who begins her third year on the Tusculum sidelines.
ATTACKERS
Grad student Kylie Marek (Plantation, Fla.) returns to the field the season after missing the entire 2023 campaign due to injury. Marek scored 26 goals and had eight assists for 34 points during the 2022 season, with 46 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers. In 24 career games, Marek has 43 goals and 11 assists for 54 points to go with 31 ground balls and 69 draw controls.
Senior Abby Lockwood (Wentzville, Mo.) was fourth on the team with 18 goals and 28 points last season, while junior Emma Miller (Maryville, Tenn.) was fifth on the team with seven goals and five assists for 12 points in 16 games. Junior Mackenzie Sherrod (Seymour, Tenn.) appeared in 15 matches last season, scoring five goals and collecting six ground balls.
Junior Cassidy Bourne (Kent, Ohio) is a transfer from Lake Erie, where she scored 33 goals and 19 assists for 52 points in two seasons, including team highs of 20 goals, 15 assists and 35 points last season.
Joining the Pioneers this season are freshmen Zuza Stasiak (Poznan, Poland) along with Paetyn Hoffmann (Niceville, Fla.).
MIDFIELDERS
Senior Lucy Brewer (Williamstown, Australia) was third-team All-SAC last season after finishing second on the team in goals (37), points (43) and draw controls (69). She led the Pioneers with 36 ground balls and 30 caused turnovers, and has an active streak of 15 straight games with a goal. Brewer has 67 goals and 15 assists for 82 points in her Tusculum career.
Sophomore Jessie Carolin-Vandenberg (Yarraville, Australia) played in all 16 games and had six goals and an assists, with 26 ground balls and nine caused turnovers. Junior Kira Spaulding (Adams, Tenn.) also played in all 16 matches last season and had seven ground balls and three caused turnovers.
Freshmen Liberty Jones (Columbus, Ind.) and Alyssa Holden (Sharpsburg, Ga.) will make their Pioneer debuts this spring.
DEFENDERS
Senior Morgan Correia (New Bedford, Mass.) is a three-year starter on defense for the Pioneers who ranked fourth on the team with 25 ground balls and fifth with 12 caused turnovers. Correia has 53 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers in 37 career appearances.
Senior Haylee Cureton (Moore, S.C.) started all 16 games in her first season with the Pioneers and had 21 ground balls along with three caused turnovers.
Sophomore Celeste Raya (Apopka, Fla.) is a third-team preseason All-SAC selection after tying for second on the team with 20 caused turnovers and picking up 21 ground balls as a freshman.
Four freshmen join the Pioneer defense this season — Rosalia DiPaolo (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Caitlyn Wysong (Greensboro, N.C.), Sofia Rositano (St. Louis, Mo.) and Morgan Ahearn (Greeneville, Tenn.).
GOALKEEPERS
Sophomore Emily White (Roswell, Ga.) is third-team preseason All-SAC after starting three games last year and compiling a 10.13 goals against average and a .411 save percentage in 450 minutes of playing time.
Freshmen Riley Vergano (West Babylon, N.Y.) and Mackie McCotter (Charlotte, N.C.) join the program this season. Senior Kari Ham (Maryland Heights, Mo.) made 13 starts last season but is unable to play for the Pioneers in 2024.
