It's next player up for The College of Wooster women's lacrosse team as they enter a new season with a range of variables and unknowns.
Wooster went 11-5 overall and 2-4 in North Coast Athletic Conference play in 2023. They had much success off the backs of key players who have since graduated and will be looking for new players to fill some important roles if they want to reach their main goal of being top four in the NCAC.
Four earned All-NCAC honors for the Scots last year including three outgoing seniors – Britta Treu, Clare Leithauser and Hannah Shaw – and one returnee in Kenzie Morris.
Morris and Treu tied for the team lead in points (60) but both got there in different ways. Morris scored a team-high 54 goals, while Treu dished out a team-high 43 assists.
Treu's 43 assists set a single-season program record, and her career 77 assists is fourth all-time.
Now, it's time for new players to be put in the spotlight.
Morris should have no problem returning to the heights she saw as a sophomore. She was the first Scot since 2019 to surpass the 50-goal mark and ranked seventh all-time in single season goals.
"Kenzie found herself a lot last year and she will be able to put points on the board," women's lacrosse coach Elizabeth Ford said. "I think there will be a few people who can step up and step into some different roles."
Wooster returns three others who scored 20-plus goals in senior Kenzie Smith (27), junior Kaitlyn McBride (23) and sophomore Lizzie Hardy (23).
The Scots also had several first years see quality playing time in 2023 including Hardy, Sidney O'Rourke, Brynne Snaguski, Bella Woodbury and Soleil Dubois.
"We've had a few girls who had a nice showing the last year or two but maybe have been overshadowed by some different players," Ford said. "Hopefully, some others will have the opportunity to be the kid everyone notices."
Looking at defenders, the Scots bring back a solid core including captains Ciara O'Connor and Lexi Sarne. O'Connor missed last season due to injury, while Sarne started all 16 games and was second on the team with 23 caused turnovers and third in groundballs with 30.
Wooster returns starting junior goalkeeper Ashley Reynolds. Reynolds saw most of the time in net, appearing in 15 of the 16 games. She finished with a 10-4 record with 63 saves.
Wooster also has first-year Audrey Richardson in the mix as well.
"She's challenging every day, works hard in and out of practice," Ford said. "We're excited by the progress that she's making."
One additional benefit for the goalkeepers this year is new assistant coach Katie Shideler. A Scot alum, Shideler is a two-time All-NCAC goalkeeper and, as a senior, was the program's first NCAC Defensive Player of the Year since 2004.
"She's been great with the keepers," Ford said. "They are excited to have her. She's enthusiastic and likes being in this role, so it's been fun having her back."
Amongst the NCAC, the recent coaches' poll has Wooster (23) ranked fifth, two points behind DePauw University (25).
Denison University is the preseason favorite (46) but only by a single point after receiving four first-place votes. Kenyon College is second with 45 points and three first-place votes, and Ohio Wesleyan University is third (31).
Kenyon won last year's regular season title, while the Big Red won the tournament title. Both teams got into the NCAA Tournament last year, as did DePauw, and each captured at least one win in the tournament.
"Our conference has always been strong, and we're getting stronger," Ford said. "There is about six of us at least that are more than capable of competing, but our conference only takes the top four, so we want to be top four."
Wooster opens the season Feb. 24 against Baldwin Wallace University in the second game of a men/women doubleheader. The Scots will open NCAC play with a tough test out of the gate when they travel to Denison on April 10.