Women's lacrosse looks to reload in 2018

ORANGE, Calif. - As the 2018 season kicks off for the Chapman University women's lacrosse team, the Panthers will look to the next generation to replace an accomplished senior class. The returners are ready to lead the charge and pass the torch to a new group of players as they prepare to take the spotlight.

Chapman's lone returning senior is two-time First Team All-SCIAC and Chapman's all-time assist leader middie Stacey Zuppa. Out of the 27 players on the roster only five of them are upperclassmen. Zuppa, a proven leader, looks to bring her game to new heights and elevate her young team as the season gets underway. The team will look to fellow middie All-SCIAC junior Danielle Zahn to help carry the scoring load after scoring 28 goals last season.

Captain and junior defender Shelby Thompson is ready to anchor the team's defense in her third season as a Panther. Defender Ally Kroeckel looks to have a strong sophomore campaign after being voted the team's newcomer of the year last season. Coming off of season in which she scored 22 goals as a freshman, sophomore middie Danelle Lucero will try and an improve on an excellent rookie year.

With a lot of fresh talent on the field, the Panthers look to leverage their youth to surprise the SCIAC this season. Chapman enters the season as an underdog and was ranked fifth out of six in preseason conference rankings despite reaching the championship match in each of the last two years.

The team roster now bolsters 12 freshman, many of whom will look to make a significant impact for the Panthers this season. The Panthers are excited to welcome two freshman as the only goalkeepers on their roster.

The Panthers will start off the season with their first game tomorrow with a SCIAC match against the University of Redlands on the road tomorrow night at 7 p.m.