WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson women's lacrosse team aims for its third-straight Presidents' Athletic Conference title this spring. W&J returns the bulk of its starting lineup from last season. The Presidents open the 2023 slate at home versus Marymount University on Saturday, Feb. 25.  

2022 Season Review: Under the guidance of head coach Alison Valerio, the Presidents finished with a 12-5 overall record in 2022. W&J claimed its second PAC title and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for a third time in program history. Valerio led the Presidents to double-digit victories for the fifth time in nine seasons at W&J. This marks the third time that Valerio has been named conference coach of the year. She previously earned conference coach of the year honors following the 2016 and 2021 seasons. 

The Presidents once again reigned supreme last season as they compiled a perfect 8-0 regular season record in conference play before securing a pair of wins in the PAC Tournament. W&J finished off its stellar campaign with a 13-5 victory over Grove City in the title tilt. The conference crown was the fourth overall for the Presidents women's lacrosse program. W&J's season concluded by being edged in heartbreaking fashion, 16-15, in NCAA First Round versus Transylvania.  

"We're extremely proud of the way our 2022 season ended and certainly enjoyed furthering our success from the 2021 season," Valerio said. "Every year is a new year and each season we bring a completely new perspective to the team. Our goal is always to compete and play to our potential, so we've been focusing on building off of last season as we look ahead to 2023."

Amanda Effland (Frederick, Md./Frederick) led the way for the Presidents last season, as she picked up All-Region Second Team recognition from the IWLCA and garnered First Team All-PAC status.  

Sarah Labovitz (Great Falls, Va./The Bullis School), Sam Casile (New Kensington, Pa./Plum) and Ella Phillips (Arnold, Md./Broadneck) joined Effland on First Team All-PAC. Kaitlyn Brown (Charlotte Hall, Md./La Plata) was listed on Second Team while Aisa Uhler (East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing), Clara Sherwood, Paige Howe (Bowie, Md./St. John's) and Gabby Galla (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) were all Honorable Mention choices. 

Position By Position Breakdown:  

Attack – Effland will once again be expected to lead the way offensively. She led W&J in goals (50), assists (25), points (75) and free position goals (10) in 2022. She also ranked second on the squad in draw controls (53). Effland scored three or more goals 10 times last season. She matched her season-high with five goals three times including the NCAA First Round game versus Transylvania. Effland enters her senior season ranking second all-time in assists (56) and 10th in goals (89).  

"Amanda has showcased an immense amount of talent throughout her career and has proven her ability to lead our offense each season," said Valerio."We expect nothing less as she competes in her final season. She's a very driven player with the versatility to affect both sides of the ball. I'm confident she will continue to do what she does best and lead by example."

Aisa Uhler (East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing) returns as a starter on attack. Uhler earned All-PAC honors for a second-straight season following a strong season last year. Uhler finished with 42 points, a total that ranked as fourth most on the Presidents. Uhler tallied eight hat tricks last season. She posted a season-high five goals in a win over Grove City in the regular season finale.  

Emily Heck (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic) and Lina Crowley (Potomac, Md./The Bullis School) provide some additional experience on attack. Heck started 16 games last spring and racked up 31 points (21 goals, 16 assists) while Crowley tallied 15 points in 15 games (2 starts).  

A pair of freshmen, Anna Kloehn (Canton, Ohio/Jackson) and Brynne Stewart (Painesville, Ohio/Andrews Osborne Academy), join the mix and look to make contributions at the position.  

Midfield – Labovitz remains a catalyst for W&J in the midfield, in the draw circle and transition game. The senior finished with team highs in ground balls (55) and draw controls (82) while ranking second in points (45) and third in goals (29).  

Labovitz, the 2021 PAC Offensive Player of the Year, enters her final campaign in the Red and Black among the best in several statistical categories all time. Labovitz ranks third in draw controls (183), fourth in assists (47), sixth in ground balls (136), 11th in ground balls (87) and 11th in goals (87). 

"Sarah is very athletic and has the natural ability to play a midfield position," Valerio said. "She affects both sides of the ball and has been a dominant figure in our transition game the last few years. Sarah excels on the draw and can make plays in clutch situations. She impacts everyone around her, which is tough to beat."

Sofia Jenkins (Hughesville, Md./The Calverton School) brings back a wealth of experience in the midfield. Jenkins, a two-time PAC All-Tournament team selection, finished with 45 points last season. Her 24 assists ranked second on the squad just behind Effland.  

Jenkins turned in a pair of strong performances in the PAC Tournament. She posted an eight-point (three goals, five assists) effort in a semifinal win over Saint Vincent. Jenkins then tallied four points (two goals, two assists) in the championship game win over Grove City.  Haley Lawyer (Glenside, Pa./Archbishop Wood) along with newcomers Caleigh Bogats (Oakdale, Pa./Chartiers Valley) and Mya Bolinda (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) will contribute in the midfield, as all are expected to see time. 

Defense – W&J returns its entire starting unit defensively. A strong part of the team's makeup last season, the unit will once again look to lock down its opponents.

"Our defensive unit is a tightknit group and have gained a lot of experience together," said Valerio. "They've also experienced their share of adversity. We trust them to be the backbone of our team and know they can handle pressure. Their success goes hand-in-hand with our offense and we know, at the end of the day, the only way we win is together."

A pair of seniors, Sam Casile (New Kensington, Pa./Plum) and Gabby Galla (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria Academy), lead the way.  

Casile led a stellar defensive unit with 51 ground balls and 39 caused turnovers. The totals ranking her third and second on the Presidents last season. Casile recorded three or more caused turnovers in nine different games. She totaled 10 ground balls and seven caused turnovers in the two PAC Tournament games. For her efforts, she was honored as the PAC Tournament's Most Outstanding Player and earned a spot on the PAC All-Tournament Team.  

Galla picked up her second All-PAC honor last spring. The junior finished with 34 ground balls and 27 caused turnovers in 2022. Galla finished with a season-high six ground balls and four caused turnovers in an 8-6 win at Thiel on April 6. 

Phillips produced a standout freshman season for the Red and Black. One of the top first-year players in the PAC leads the Presidents with 41 caused turnovers and ranked second in ground balls with 52. Phillips raised her game against PAC runner-up Grove City. In the two games against the Wolverines, Phillips accounted for 13 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers. Phillips forced three or more caused turnovers on seven occasions in 2022. She averaged 2.44 caused turnovers per game, which ranks her 36th in NCAA Division III. Phillips earned a spot on the PAC All-Tournament Team. 

Howe earned her first All-PAC honor by tallying 26 ground balls and 20 caused turnovers in 2022. She caused multiple turnovers seven times in 2022. She had three ground balls and three caused turnovers against PAC runner-up Grove City on April 30. 

Team Captains: Kaitlyn Brown (#0), Sofia Jenkins (#4), Sam Casile (#11) 

"Each of our captains bring their own level of experience and insight to the team," Valerio said. "Playing different positions, we are able to collaborate together and bring new ideas to the table or discuss areas that need improvement. As an extension of our coaching staff, we trust their perspectives and know their feedback is valuable to the success of the team."
 

Newcomers:  

#3 Anna Kloehn (Attack / Canton, Ohio / Jackson) 

#5 Brynne Stewart (Attack / Painesville, Ohio / Andrews Osborne Academy) 

#12 Caleigh Bogats (Midfield / Oakdale, Pa. / Chartiers Valley) 

#16 Mya Bolinda (Midfield / Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Hills) 

#28/99 Gillian Meaney (GK / Milford, Ma. / Milford) 

#30/55 Gianna Baker (GK / Carlisle, Pa. / Trinity) 

Looking At The Schedule:  

W&J opens its season against Marymount on Saturday, February 25^th at 12pm in Alexandre Stadium. W&J starts PAC play against Bethany Wednesday, March 29^th at 4:30pm in Bethany, W.V. The Red and Black play PAC newcomer Allegheny April 26^th at 7pm after a thrilling 16-15 win for the Presidents in their 2022 season.  

Last Word From The Head Coach: "We're extremely excited for the 2023 season to begin and look forward to competing in the PAC. It's been great to see women's lacrosse grow in our conference and know the bar is set higher each year to compete. We welcome Allegheny and several new coaches to our membership!"