Cedar Crest College Athletics

The 1997 Cedar Crest College lacrosse team closed the season 13-2 overall, 7-1 in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference. Under the direction of the First-year Coach Gracia Perilli, the Classics (Falcons) captured their first PAC Championship with a 15-12 victory over Cabrini. Cedar Crest was the only institution to have four members named to the PAC All-Conference team. The Classics put together two five-game win streaks with only one loss being recorded in the month of March and April. The team’s success can be attributed to a solid group of returning players as well as a talented core of first-year players. The following players made important contributions.

Vaness Kreckel, Sr., defender, Broadheadsville/Pleasant Valley H.S.
Started 14 games. Team leader both on and off the field. Led all defensive players with five goals and five assisrs. Netted a goal in games versus Widener, King’s, Cabrini, and Gwynedd Mercy twice. Her goal against Cabrini late in the game secured the PAC championship for Cedar Crest. Collected assists in matches against Eastern, Chestnut Hill, Gwynedd, Beaver and King’s. Member of defensive unit that set school record for fewest goals scored by opponents in a season (130). Defense held PAC opponents to only 71 goals in eight contests. Named Cedar Crest’s Outstanding Senior Athlete. Four year stats include 20 goals and six assists for 26 points.

Megan Jester, So., defender, Wilmington, DE./ St. Mark’s H.S.
Started in all 15 games. Began the season at attack wing and moved mid-way through the year to defensive wing. Closed the year with 13 goals and seven assists for 20 points. Top offensive game was a three goal and one assist performance versus Eastern. Also netted three goals against King’s. Scored two goals in games against Cabrini, Gwynedd Mercy and Eastern. Also collected a goal versus Widener. Recorded assists in matches with Widener, Cabrini, Gwynedd, Philadelphia Textile and once in each Beaver game. Member of defensive unit that set school record of fewest goals allowed by opponents in a season (130). Two year stats include 19 goals and eight assists for 27 points.

Kim Sewell, So., defender, Chesapeake, MD./ Bohemia Manor H.S.
A 15 game starter at defensive wing. Sewell was instrumental in advancing the ball up the field. A physical player who was always aggressive to the ball. Closed the year with one goal and three assists. Netted her only goal of the year in a shutout versus Gwynedd Mercy. Recorded an assist in games versus Beaver, Eastern and Cabrini in the championships. Two-year stats include three goals and five assists.

Jenn Hartman, Jr., attack, Boyertown/Boyertown H.S.
Started all 15 games. Team leader. A PAC All-Conference selection for the third consecutive season. Considered the best player in the conference. Named PAC Player of the Week two times this season. Voted the team’s MVP. Led the team with 66 goals and 18 assists for 84 points. Scored two or more goals in 14 of 15 games. Posted a career-high nine goals versus Chestnut Hill in which she set a school record for points in a game (11 – 9 goals and 2 assists). Netted seven goals against Textile; six versus Widener and Gwynedd; five in games with Eastern twice and King’s; four against Gwynedd and Cabrini twice including the championship game. Also scored three goals in the Kean match. Posted a team-high four assists in the King’s match. Posted a team high four assists in the King’s match. Collected three assists versus Eastern whil adding two assists against Kean, Textile and Chestnut Hill. Also recorded an assist versus Cabrini three times, Gwynedd and Beaver. Received the Women’s Sports Foundation Wilma Rudolph Courage Award. A GTE Academic All-American nominee. After three seasons has 152 goals scored, 46 assists, and 198 points.

Jen Shreiner, Jr., attack, Glenmoore/Owen J. Roberts H.S.
A 14 game starter. Missed one game due to injury. PAC all-conference selection for the second consecutive season. Named PAC Player of the Week. Has tremendous speed and great stick skills. Finished second on the team in scoring with 65 goals and 10 assists for 75 points. Scored at least one goal in all 14 games. Netted eight goals in games with Textile and Eastern while adding seven goals versus Widener and Kean. Contributed six goals against Beaver; five goals versus King’s and Cabrini and Gwynedd while adding three against Gwynedd and Chestnut Hill matches. Also added a team-high two assists in the championship match with Cabrini. Dished one assist versus Textile, Beaver, Gwynedd and King’s. Three year totals included 140 goals and 19 assists for 159 total points.

Emily Magner, Jr., attack, Effort/Pleasant Valley H.S.
Part-time starter in her first intercollegiate season. Controlled the ball behind the cage. Posted lone assist of the season when she connected with Jen Hartman in a game versus Philadelphia Textile.

Carolina Godinez, Fr., attack, Hyattsville, MD/ Eleanor Roosevelt H.S.
Part-time starter. Never played lacrosse prior to this season. Recorded an assist against Gwynedd Mercy when she hit Jen Shreiner going to the goal.

Diane Dragwa, Jr. attack, Carbondale/Carbondale H.S.
A 15 game starter. Never played lacrosse prior to the 1997 season. Closed the year with four goals and one assist. Netted a season high two goals against Gwynedd Mercy while adding one goalversus Carbini and again versus Gwynedd. Lone assist came when she connected with Megan Jester in the Eastern match.

Meg Schleifer, Sr., attack, Hamden Hall, CT/Country Day School
Returned this spring after sitting out all of the 1996 season. A part-time starter Schleifer closed the year with 14 goals and one assist. Recorded a season-high six goals versus Gwynedd Mercy. Also netted three goals versus Kings, two goals in games against Philadelphia Textile and Cabrini; and one goal in the Beaver match. Connected with Vanessa Kreckel for her lone assist of the year. Skilled player who controlled the ball from behind the cage. Three year stats: 88 goals and 15 assists for 103 points.

Jessica Whittington, Jr., defender, Carbondale/Carbondale H.S.
A starting defensive wing until injuries took their toll late in the year. Never played lacrosse prior to the 1997 season. Member of the defense that recorded a school record for fewest goals allowed in a year with 130. Smart defender who always end up in the right spot. Very good on the double team.

Beth Rice, Fr., attack, Mountain Top/Crestwood H.S.
A 13 game starter in her first intercollegiate season. Missed the final two games of the year due to injury. A smart player who developed into a solid player during the course of the season. Played at both second home and attack wing. Good passer who was instrumental in advancing the ball down the field.

Bernadine Salak, Fr., defender, Waymart/Western Wayne H.S.
A 15 game starter in her first intercollegiate season. Never played lacrosse prior to the 1997 season. Named the team’s Most Improved Player. Traditionally guarded the opponents best passer from behind the cage. Member of the defensive unit that set a school record for fewest goals allowed in one year with 130. The defense held PAC opponents to 71 goals in eight contests. A solid defensive player who was very strong on the double team. Scored her lone goal of the year in a victory over Gwynedd Mercy.

1997 LACROSSE STATISTICS
NO.                             GOALS ASSISTS POINTS
24  Jen Hartmen             66             18         84
28  Jen Shreiner             65             10         75
12  Betsy Van Horn        35              5          40
20  Megan Jester           13              7          20
16  Meg Schleifer           14              1          15
14  Vanessa Kreckel        5              5          10
31  Michele Klem             5              2           7
13  Diane Dragwa            4              1           5
29  Bern Salak                 1              0           1
15  Kim Sewell                 1              3           4
10  Carolina Godinez       0              1           1
 7   Emily Magner             0              1           1

                                          GOALS                           GOALS
NO.                     MIN     ALLOWED     SAVES     AGAINST AVG
23     Jill Kaintz   888             130            242                8.6