With its sights set on improving upon its 8-8 2006 record and second-straight second-place American Lacrosse Conference finish, Penn State embarks on the 2007 season armed with the determination, confidence, experience, and talent to challenge for the ALC title and make a run for a postseason berth.

Head coach Suzanne Isidor, entering her seventh season at the helm of the Nittany Lion program, returns 23 letterwinners and seven starters from the 2006 squad, including two First Team All-ALC selections and one All-American. Combine that gifted core of veteran returnees with an outstanding class of incoming recruits and the formula for success is in place.

¡°I am very excited about the 2007 season,¡± said Isidor. ¡°We have just completed one of our best fall seasons in recent years. This year¡¯s team has tremendous leadership and chemistry. The 2007 squad definitely has the talent and the desire to return to the NCAA Tournament and do very well. The key will be approaching each match-up like it¡¯s a one-game season. Once again, we are playing a very difficult schedule and have to be ready each day to give our best in order to be successful against such top notch competition.¡±

Attack
With the losses of prolific scorers Shari Maslin and Lori Havrilla to graduation, leadership of the Penn State attack will be capably inherited by the senior duo of Lindsay Dutch and Karen Long. In 2006, they combined to post 36 goals and 14 assists.

¡°Lindsay and Karen are ready to lead this unit,¡± said Isidor. ¡°They have been playing together since high school and play so well together. They have three years of college experience, giving them an advanced understanding of the game. They are both productive scorers, but also do an excellent job of getting their teammates involved. We look for them to be big threats this year.¡±

Contributions will be also be counted on from junior Kim Kontson, a 21-point scorer in 2006, and sophomore Megan McGuire, who, despite starting just seven games a year ago, finished second on the team with 11 assists. Fellow sophomores Brittany Jensen and Marisa Lozano, who missed her entire freshman season due to injury, proved this fall that they are poised for breakout seasons.

Midfield
All-American junior midfielder Jessi Lieb provides Penn State with a commanding presence on both the offensive and defensive ends of the field. A three-year starter, she is the Nittany Lions¡¯ returning leader in goals, points, ground balls, caused turnovers, and draw controls.

Joining her in the midfield will be sophomore Kerry Shea. Off to a blistering start in her freshman campaign, netting 10 goals in seven games, Shea saw her season ended by a leg injury. She is back at full strength and ¡°has the speed, aggressiveness, and skill to dominate all over the field,¡± according to Isidor.

Senior tri-captain Joanie Plake, who has put two injury-plagued season behind her, and freshman Maria Valderas will add key depth.

Defense
Two-time First Team All-ALC selection senior Renee Cipro will anchor an aggressive Penn State defensive unit. A relentless defender, Cipro will once again be counted on to shut down opposing teams¡¯ top offensive weapon.

¡°Renee has been a fixture in the Penn State defensive end for three years and will again be a huge factor in our success,¡± said Isidor.

Cipro will team with classmate Jenn Green to form the heart of the Nittany Lion defense. Juniors Linsey Shea and Lindsay Hagemann gained valuable experience last year and will be an important part of this season¡¯s defensive efforts.

Goalkeeper
Senior Cammie Jurkowsky established herself as the first-team goalkeeper last season, starting a career-high 15 games. She finished the 2006 season strongly and worked hard in the offseason to improve her game. Junior Jess Boccio, who played in seven games a year ago, and freshman Stephanie Ellis will push for playing time and the starting job.

¡°All three of our goalkeepers have a tremendous amount of potential and will compete to make each other better,¡± said Isidor.