Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Steven M. Miller, Jr.

Every team has its go to players that you can depend on to score a key goal, spark a run, or add the insurance markers needed to win the game. On the Bridgewater State College women's' lacrosse team, freshman Jenny Jones, and sophomores Kate DeMaio and Shannon Manning are this year's big three.

"It's very exciting as a coach to see that our three leading scorers are sophomores and freshman," said head coach Erika Smith.

On last year's 9-7 squad, Manning led the team in goals in her freshman season. She finished with 48 goals and 11 assists for 59 points. This season she has notched an eye-popping 44 goals and 44 assists for 88 points. On defense, Manning leads the team in draw controls (57) and ties for second on the team in caused turnovers (16).

"Shannon is a great leader and overall a great player," said Smith. "She not only has great stats for goals and assists, but she also is one of our top leaders for such stats as draw controls, caused turnovers, and ground balls."

One of the reasons that the team has been successful is because the team plays well as a team, according to Manning. While breaking career milestones may be rewarding, passing long-held team marks are just as important to her.

"My team has been successful because we play together," said Manning. "Its not about who scores the points, its about getting the ball and passing to one another making it a quick transition with a fast crash on the net. It's not about individual record breakers, we have broken many records as a team. That means the most."

Last season, DeMaio scored 29 goals to go along with 12 assists for 37 points. This year she is second on the team with 49 goals while tying for third with 18 assists.

"Katie has improved this season," said Smith. "She is a great shooter from day one, but this season is the season that she has put her superior skills into games."

DeMaio says that last year she was tentative as a freshman. She really wasn't sure whether to take a shot, pull it out or pass it.

"This year I saw the opportunity, I took it and it worked," said DeMaio. "I think this season I have just had more fun and played to my potential."

Jones comes to the team from the Division I Massachusetts State Champion Framingham High School. While at this school, she helped her team as they won their second straight title over East Longmeadow last season. As an attacker, she helped the team accumulate a 25-0 record. With 52 goals this season, Jones is only eight goals off from tying the single-season record held by Ann Silvia, who graduated in 1999.

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