By Kiley O’Donnell
Sports Assignment Editor
The St. Bonaventure University women’s lacrosse team is gearing up this spring to begin its 17th season as a program. During the spring of 2016, the Bonnies went 3-14, finishing ninth in the Atlantic 10.
Senior captain Taylor Fallon started 15 games during her junior campaign in 2016, tallying a team high 34 goals, 14 assists, 18 ground balls, and 39 ground controls while finishing fifth in the A10 for free position goals per game. A midfielder from Jamesville, Fallon explained her personal and team goals for this season.
“A team goal this season is to get to A10’s at the end. It’s been a long time coming, and this team has the potential and stamina to get there,” said Fallon. “A personal goal of mine is to make an all-conference team; good stats across the board (goals, assists, draw controls, ground balls) is what gets people a place on one of those teams.”
With a good amount of underclassmen, including eight freshmen, the seniors are looked at as the role models of the team.
Fallon discussed how she hopes to be an example and encourage them by going the extra mile on and off the lacrosse field.
“I try to set an example of a good player by actions, not necessarily words. I’m definitely not the loudest senior captain — Jalen [Middlebrooks] is— but I’ll discipline myself through wall-ball, extra shooting and being coachable. I hope other teammates see that and strive to be similar,” said Fallon.
A tight knit unit, the same eight seniors have been involved in the program since coming to Bona’s in fall of 2013.
Erica Knaub, Rachel Perla, Fallon, Middlebrooks, Mary Maestri, Scarlet Jaworski, Maddison Appel and LeighAnn Stauffer look to finish their lacrosse careers on a high note.
“Senior year is about closing out our lacrosse career with no doubts,” said Fallon. “It will be a privilege to step off the field the last time with the same eight people we started with freshman year. You don’t see that a lot in any D1 sport.”
Middlebrooks accumulated 39 ground balls, 17 draw controls, four goals, one assist and had caused 23 turnovers last season.
The defenseman from Newington, Connecticut, started every game for the Brown and White in 2016 and finished fourth in the A10 for ground balls per game.
“Of course, some personal goals include a conference award and to make this my best statistical season. As a walk on at first, I never expected to ever make it this far and to possibly earn an award in D1 lacrosse,” said Middlebrooks. “As a team, make it to A10s. Another team goal is to see teammates to earn conference awards along with being a threat to every single team we face.”
Middlebrooks takes her role as team captain very seriously, as she believes her role on the team can help the underclassmen and team off the field as well.
She isn’t afraid to mention when something does not look right or can be adjusted. She also brings her sense of humor to the team that all the girls can relate to.
“Underclassmen ask a lot of questions, and in order to help, you have to answer them because they will step into your shoes one day. Constructive criticism is important in every sport,” said Middlebrooks. “By giving this to the underclassman, it improves their style of play as well as improving the team chemistry. I’m also kind of the goofball of the team, so I like to remind them to still have fun, of course when coach isn’t looking.”
Lacing up for her last season as a Bonnie, Middlebrooks reflected on what she and her fellow classmates have accomplished over their three years together so far.
They have overcome many obstacles and challenges in the short time they have been together.
“My senior season means to show out. Like the seniors have been saying to each other this preseason, ‘last one, best one’. The seniors have been through a lot the past four years, from having very small numbers to the adjustment to different coaches,” Middlebrooks said.
Middlebrooks knows the talent her team possesses, and wants to make it the best season the program has ever seen.
“This senior season means to show how much we have overcome and to prove to people what we are truly capable of,” said Middlebrooks. “Going off that, I think that’s what I’m most excited for. It’s to prove a point. It’s to prove that this program can be something great, which was the opposite of what it was usually thought of.”
The Bonnies will kick off their season on the road against Albany on Feb. 12.
odonneke16@bonaventure.edu
