High Expectations for Monmouth Women's Lacrosse
Monmouth, IL (02/26/2020) — Now entering its fourth season, the Monmouth College women's lacrosse team has raised its expectations after raising its win total in each of the first three seasons.
"I like this team a lot," said coach Elizabeth Demara, who has built the team from the ground up. "Practices are going well. Everyone came back much improved from last season in terms of stick work and fitness. Now that we're in our fourth season, our fundamentals have advanced to the point where we're able to get into more advanced concepts and game strategy at a much earlier stage of the preseason."
Two seniors who have been with the program since Day 1 - Kara-Jade Gordon (Nashville, Tenn./University School) and Amanda Green (Henderson, Nev./Basic) - lend to Demara's optimism as the top two scorers from a season ago when the team tripled its win total from the previous year.
"K-J and Amanda are our first four-year members and that's something no one can duplicate," said Demara. "They've invested a lot in our program and are really excited for this season. They've seen the progression firsthand and can fully appreciate just how far we've come."
A three-time all-league honoree who played last fall for the Jamaican national team, Gordon enters her final campaign after leading the team in eight statistical categories including goals (80) and caused turnovers (51). Green trailed only Gordon last season in goals (29), assists (13) and points (62). The tandem form a solid foundation for an offense that should raise its goal standards.
"K-J understands she has a future in lacrosse and is motivated to have a great spring," explained Demara of Gordon's international experience. "It was a great experience for her, but a different format. In college play, she'll have a tighter space with which to work. Amanda has been very consistent and a really solid player. We've got an improved offense this year and that should translate into her getting more assists this season."
Demara will also count on the big-game experience of dual-sport players to aid in a rise in scoring. Juniors Aspen Chadderdon (Marshalltown, Iowa/Marshalltown) and sophomores Sarah Poirier (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) and Madison Meldrum (Colona, Ill./United Township) - who, with Gordon - were part of last fall's women's soccer team which earned its first NCAA postseason appearance.
"That experience was great for both programs," smiled Demara. "Our dual-sport kids understand what it takes to compete at a high level and that can only rub off on the rest of the team."
Chadderdon made the move upfield last season from the defensive end to score a career-high 18 goals - one of four double-digits scorers with Gordon and Green. The increased offense didn't negatively impact her defense, where she caused 25 turnovers, second only to Gordon. Playing her inaugural season in 2019, Poirier dished out four assists and scored twice.
"I expect K-J, Amanda, Aspen and Sarah to be our top scorers," predicted Demara. "I think you'll see some goal increases from a few others, too."
Seniors Kyla Baker (Chicago, Ill./Jones College Prep) - primarily a defender last season - and McKenzie DeVilder (Kewanee, Ill./Kewanee) and sophomore Mel Fairand (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) are also on Demara's radar of scoring threats after Fairand scored five times last season and DeVilder four.
"We've been working on getting K-B (Baker) up to midfield instead of being a straight defender to get her some scoring opportunities, but she'll still defend," explained Demara. "We feel like we have many more scoring options than we have in the past. The experience has given the women more confidence to go in and take the shot."
On the defensive end, look for more soccer experience with juniors Lesly Montoya (Villa Park, Ill./Willowbrook) - now a third year starter for Demara - and Hayden DeLeeuw (Kirksville, Mo./Kirksville) playing key roles. Sophomore Courtney Fisher (Monmouth, Ill./Monmouth-Roseville) - projected to be the defensive anchor - and freshman MacKenzie Holmes (Clive, Iowa/Waukee) will round out the possibilities around the veteran Baker, who Demara calls her best one-on-one defender.
"Mac should really challenge for playing time," said Demara of Holmes. "The best part of our defense right now is that they're working together as a unit. It's not so much one player making plays. It's everyone shifting together as one. Our mentality and understanding has improved. They get it."
If anyone gets behind the defense, they'll come face-to-face with sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Matlock (Lees Summit, Mo./St. Teresas Academy). Matlock logged nearly 500 minutes over 13 games, making 13 saves per game.
"We expect her save percentage to get better," said Demara. "Playing goal as a freshman is quite a shock with the speed of the game. We generally see a pretty significant improvement from the freshman to sophomore year. Olivia played the majority of the minutes last year and came in this spring with much more confidence. She's put in the work, gotten faster hands and is more aware. Overall, she's just more confident."
While improved, the team will be hard-pressed to triple their win total in 2020 as they did last season. That doesn't mean the Scots will just be going through the motions.
"Our mentality has shifted into a more confident mindset," reported Demara. "Our dual-sport kids have brought that with them. Being a young program, we haven't necessarily had that kind of confidence in the past. We saw last year that winning was possible. It's been a shift in mentality from winning being a possibility to winning should be an expectation."
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