(ANN ARBOR, Mich.) The abbreviated 2020 season saw the Cardinals women's lacrosse team get off to a hot start. The Cardinals compiled a 5-1 record, outscoring their opponents 98-46 in their six games. When the season was postponed, and ultimately cancelled, in mid-March, the Cardinals were riding a three game winning streak and ranked #10 nationally. The fast start in 2020 followed a successful 2019 season, where the Cardinals went 11-5 and broke into the NAIA national rankings for the first time at #9.
This season, the Cardinals will open play ranked #8 nationally in the NAIA preseason poll. In Year 5 of the program, Coach Amanda Asher and the Cardinals will look to maintain the standard that they have set over the past several years. "Our motto this year has been really simple," Coach Asher said. "The word we keep repeating is 'WORK' because we know that is what it will take to sustain what we've done and to continue to build on it."
Schedule Outlook
The Cardinals will face a highly competitive schedule this year with 6 of their 12 opponents either inside the NAIA top 10 rankings or receiving votes.
The season opens on Monday, February 22 in Georgetown, Kentucky with a matchup against the #7 Georgetown Tigers. The Cardinals will then take to the road for a non-conference contest at Indiana Tech on Saturday, February 27. The Cardinals will close out non-conference play with a neutral site matchup against #2 ranked University of the Cumberlands.
Conference plays kicks off on Saturday, March 20 at Rochester followed by Tuesday, March 23 at (RV) Siena Heights and March 27 at Aquinas. The Cardinals' home schedule begins on Wednesday, March 31 against #6 ranked Lawrence Tech. Saturday, April 3 is Senior Day at Cardinal Stadium as Concordia hosts Bethel College in a conference matchup at noon. The final four contests of WHAC play are April 7 at Lourdes, April 10 at (RV) Cleary and a two game homestand vs. (RV) Madonna on April 14 and Indiana Tech on April 17.
Cardinals Slated 2nd in Preseason Coaches' Poll
WHAC coaches predicted the Cardinals will finish 2nd in the preseason poll as the Cardinals received 88 points. Lawrence Tech was picked in the top spot with all 10 first place votes for 100 total points. Just behind the Cardinals, Siena Heights is projected to finish third (75 points) and Cleary is picked to finish fourth (64 points). Madonna, Aquinas, Indiana Tech, Bethel, Rochester, and Lourdes round out the preseason poll.
Roster Breakdown
The Cardinals will be led by team captains Amanda Archer (SR/Brighton, MI), Greyson Papp (SR/South Bend, IN) and Madalyn Fields (JR/Waterford, MI).
Archer is now a three-time captain and played every minute in goal last season, compiling a 52.1% save percentage and a 5-1 record. Archer has a 16-6 career record in cage during her two seasons as a Cardinal and has been named WHAC Defensive Player of the Week three times in her career.
Papp enters her Senior season off of a well-rounded junior campaign which saw her score 10 goals, pick up 5 assists, and collect 13 draw controls. Papp is the school's all-time leader in draw controls with 101 for her career and was WHAC Defensive Player of the Week in 2019. Fields will also look to build off of a big season in the draw control circle, where she collected 20 draw controls in six games last season.
The Cardinals return 2019 second team all-conference selection, Jennifer Miller (JR/South Lyon, MI) in the midfield. Miller led the team in ground balls (28), draw controls (34) and caused turnovers (12) last season, while adding 11 goals and tying for the team lead with 5 assists. Miller has been named WHAC Defensive Player of the Week twice in her career (once in 2019 and once in 2020). Also returning in the Cardinals' midfield are Taylor Nesbitt (JR/Chicago, IL) and Madisyn Fox (SO/Osceola, IN). Nesbitt collected 8 goals, 15 ground balls, and 11 caused turnovers last year, while Fox had a strong freshman campaign with 15 goals (tied for second on the team).
In addition to Papp in the attacking end, the Cardinals return two additional starters from last season, Cassandra Allard (JR/Oak Creek, WI) and Mariana Miller (SO/Costa Mesa, CA). Allard scored 15 goals to go along with 4 assists last season and has been WHAC Offensive Player of the Week three times in her career. Mariana Miller returns after a breakout freshman season that saw her lead the team with 22 goals, 5 assists, and a 56.4% shooting percentage. Miller earned WHAC Offensive Player of the Week in week 1 of last season for her efforts. Nicole Bordo (SO/Harrison Township, MI) and Alyssa Lundy (SO/Osceola, IN) also return in the attacking end and Lundy looks to build on the six goals scored in her freshman season.
In addition to Madalyn Fields, the Cardinals defensive unit will include returners Yasmin Saraiva-Meissner (SR/Holt, MI), Sabrina Lee (JR/Canton, MI), Aaliyah James (SO/Great Falls, MT), Teagan Johnson (SO/Ardendale, MN) and Adrianna Rugiero (SO/Dearborn Heights, MI). There is a strong mix of starting experience with this group of returners.
The Cardinals' roster will also feature 9 newcomers this season. Taylor Armstrong (FR/Portage, MI) and Isabella Komarowski (FR/Sterling Heights, MI) are multi-positional athletes that should make an impact all over the field. Brooke Shaffer (FR/Bowling Green, OH) and Megan Soop (FR/Brighton, MI) will provide a boost to the Cardinals' attacking unit and Alana Garlitz (FR/Lansing, MI) and Isabelle Plave (FR/Canton, MI) will be contributors in the defensive end. Tione Mercer (JR/Jackson, MI) and Katie Snow (SR/Grosse Pointe, MI) will also look to help where needed for the Cardinals. Last but not least, Rachel Costello (FR/Plymouth, MI) is a big addition as a freshman goalie and is expected to provide strong play in net for the Cardinals whenever called upon.
The Cardinals are excited to get to WORK and you can follow the fifth season of Concordia Cardinals Women's Lacrosse on Twitter (@CUAAWLAX), Instagram (CUAAWLAX), and at concordiacardinals.com.
