Ohio Wesleyan women's lacrosse coach Paige Messermith saw her initial season as a head coach cut short in 2020, and Messersmith and the Battling Bishops look to make up for lost time this season.
"There is a renewed energy after a long pause," Messersmith said. "(The players have) found that true sense of enjoyment and gratitude for any games we're able to play.
"We have really high expectations for this group. We have been able to accomplish a lot in preseason, and we're excited to see what they can do in the next month."
Sophomore attacker Grace Egan (Ridgefield, Conn.) scored 11 goals last season, tops among returning players.
Junior Taylor Floyd (Wilton, Conn.) and sophomore Caroline Kiker (Shaker Heights) are back as well on the offensive end.
Freshman Sophia Staples-Roy (Hopkinton, N.H.), who helped her high school team win a state championship, will make an immediate impact, and freshman Anna Nacci (Wooster) also looks to contribute.
Senior Megan McElgunn (Cohasset, Mass.) and senior Jenn Douglas (Easton, Md./Saints Peter and Paul) lead a talented midfield group. With 15 points in 2020, McElgunn is the Bishops' top returning scorer. Douglas led the team in draw controls with 21 and scored 9 goals, second among returning players, last season.
Freshman Sophia DelGallo (Braintree, Mass.), who helped her high school team to 3 state tournament appearances, should help right away. Freshman Nicole Klabus (Delaware/Hayes) and freshman Megan Knee (San Diego, Calif./Mt. Carmel) will look to make an immediate impact.
Junior Olivia Beauchamp (Middlebury, Vt./Middlebury Union) and freshman Hannah Cox (Orange, Calif./El Modena), will see time as defensive midfielders.
Senior Stephanie DeSoto (Sylmar, Calif./Harvard-Westlake), an honorable mention All-NCAC choice in 2019, and senior Grace Burich (Buffalo, N.Y./Mount St. Mary), also a 4-year starter, will anchor the Bishop defense. DeSoto shared the team lead in ground balls last season, while Burich ranked second on the team in caused turnovers.
Junior Chase Reinert (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) and sophomore Genna Paulick (Kettering/Fairmont) also return, and senior Emily Sheridan (North Smithfield, R.I./Marianapolis (Conn.) Prep) moves from the attack line to defense.
Senior Rachel Albers (Mason) returns as the starter in goal.
The 2021 schedule kicks off on March 23, when the Bishops visit DePauw. The North Coast Athletic Conference West Division schedule consists of home-and-home series against divisional rivals Denison, DePauw, and Wittenberg. The NCAC tournament is scheduled to be played in May.
