Kelly and Malenczak named 2014 captains
NEWPORT, R.I. – The Salve Regina women's lacrosse team is set to open the 2014 campaign on March 1 against Wheaton (Mass.) and head coach Jennifer Foster has announced seniors Grace Kelly (Auburn, N.Y.) and Karley Malenczak (Sayville, N.Y.) will lead the Seahawks as the team captains in their pursuit of the Commonwealth Coast Conference title.
Kelly and Malenczak, as selected by their teammates, will captain the 2014 Seahawks, which finished 2013 with a 3-11 record and a 1-7 CCC slate. Salve Regina finished the year 2-4 at Gaudet Field and will play 11 games at home this season.
"Grace and Karley represent our team well on and off the field. They have made an impact on our program the past three years in many different ways," stated Foster. "Both are determined along with seniors Kayla Sheehan and Josephine O'Reilly to make this the best season yet."
Last season, Kelly was third on the team with 20 goals while the pair of midfielders combined for 26 points. Kelly picked up 24 groundballs and caused 12 turnovers in the 14 games. Malenczak finished the season with 10 groundballs and five caused turnovers in 13 contests.
Kelly is tied for ninth in her career at Salve Regina with 24 assists and fifth for free position goals (12) after converting six of nine shots last year.
In 2013, the Seahawks played eight of their 14 games on the road, and this season coach Foster has brought the team home to play 11 of its 17 scheduled games in front of the home crowd at Gaudet Field.
"This team's potential is limitless and we are excited to see what the 2014 season brings. We are looking to take advantage of our schedule being predominately played at home after traveling most of the 2013 season," remarked Foster.
The Seahawks open with two straight road games against Wheaton (Mass.) and Simmons before opening the home schedule with seven-straight contests at Gaudet. It is the second-straight season the Seahawks will open with Wheaton and Simmons; last year Salve Regina when 1-1 in the pair of opening games with a 16-6 win over Simmons.
The final game of the seven-game home stand for Salve Regina will be its conference opener as the Seahawks welcome Gordon to Gaudet on Saturday, March 22 at 12 p.m. In the middle of the seven-game home stretch is in-state rival, Rhode Island College, on Tuesday March 18. Last season, the Seahawks defeated the Anchorwomen 18-11, the second most goals that season for Salve Regina. Current junior Sarah Woods (East Lyme, Conn.) posted four goals in the win for the Seahawks.
Salve Regina will face Curry (March 26), Roger Williams (April 1), Nichols (April 9) and Wentworth (April 15) on the road in its conference schedule while hosting Gordon (March 22), University of New England (March 29), Western New England (April 5) and defending CCC champion, Endicott (April 12). The Seahawks lone conference win came against Wentworth last season as Salve Regina defeated the Leopards 20-13, a season-high in goals, at Gaudet Field. Graduated senior Jennifer Jones (Basking Ridge, N.J.) set a program record with 11 points in the contest, including a program-best eight goals.