After posting double-digit win totals in each of the last three seasons and consistently being ranked among the nation's top 20, the William and Mary lacrosse team enters the 2011 campaign with one of the program's most talented and experienced rosters in recent memory. Led by a seven-member senior class that includes a pair of returning All-Americans, this year's edition of the Tribe is poised to challenge for the Colonial Athletic Association title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Bolstering the veteran-laden roster will be an impressive group of eight freshmen who will challenge the returnees for playing time and provide added depth to the lineup.

Leading the College will be a quartet of senior captains who have all been fixtures in W&M's starting lineup since their freshman season. Goalkeeper Emily Geary will assume the leadership role for the third consecutive season, while attacker Ashley Holofcener enters her second year as a captain. Two-time All-American defender Sarah Jonson and attacker Maggie Anderson also join the group this season and will be instrumental in helping the Tribe achieve its postseason goals.

ATTACK

Having averaged more than 12 goals per game in each of the last three seasons, the Tribe should continue to remain among the conference's most productive teams offensively. Holofcener will help lead the unit this season after ranking 13th nationally with 1.81 assists per game last spring. W&M's career record holder for assists (77), Holofcener has established herself as one of the nation's premier distributors and enters her final season at the College.

Also headlining the attacking corps is Anderson, who appeared in just one game in 2010 before suffering a season-ending injury. A starter during each of her first two seasons, Anderson entered last spring as one of the CAA's top attackers after ranking among the league's top 10 in goals per game as a sophomore. With a healthy return expected during the upcoming campaign, the Richmond, Va., native will be an important contributor for the Tribe.

After a standout freshman season in which she was selected to the CAA All-Rookie Team, Kyrstin Mackrides returns to the fold this year as one of the Tribe's top offensive players. A starter in all 18 contests a season ago, Mackrides ranked fifth on the team with 29 points on 22 goals and seven assists. With a season of collegiate experience behind her, those numbers should increase even more as she continues to establish herself as one of the league's top attackers.

Joining the attack this season are freshmen Taelor Salmon and Jenna Dougherty. Salmon is very athletic with outstanding finishing ability, while Dougherty possesses great field vision and fundamentals. Both should compete for significant playing time during the upcoming campaign.

MIDFIELD

The Tribe's midfield should once again be an area of strength this season, as the unit returns all but two of its starters from 2010. Leading the group will be All-American Grace Golden, who has established herself as one of the top players in the program's history during the last three seasons. An exceptional all-around talent, Golden became just the 13th player in CAA history to be chosen first-team all-conference three times last spring after ranking among the nation's top 10 in caused turnovers per game (2.2) and ground balls per game (3.1). Golden enters her senior season ranked among the program's career top 10 in goals, points, ground balls, draw controls and caused turnovers.

One of the region's most talented midfielders, senior standout Molly Wannen will also help lead the Tribe this spring after garnering all-conference accolades during each of the past two seasons. One of the squad's most versatile athletes, Wannen set a single-season school record with 52 draw controls last year and already ranks fourth on the College's career list (97). The Silver Spring, Md., native also demonstrated an ability to find the back of the net, as she posted nine multi-goal efforts and six hat tricks in 2010.

After missing her entire freshman season due to injury, Jenny Michael was a significant contributor in 2010 and appeared in all 18 games while earning 10 starts. A draw control specialist, she ranked tied for second on the team in the category with 36. Having earned the valuable playing experience last season, she will compete for an increased role for the Tribe during the upcoming campaign.

Junior Stephanie Steinweg also continued to develop into a significant performer last spring and played in 17 games with six starts. An offensive-minded midfielder, Steinweg is one of the most competitive players on the Tribe's roster. She has the ability to put points on the board for the Tribe and should see her numbers continue to increase this spring.

In addition to the upperclassmen, sophomores Caitlin Murphy and Brett Hayes also return to the fold and should both compete for quality playing time or a starting role during the upcoming campaign. Murphy appeared in 14 contests last season and contributed 11 draw controls, while Hayes came off the bench in 10 contests during her initial collegiate season.

Although she was forced to redshirt her freshman season due to injury in 2010, Katie Stillwell demonstrated significant promise and potential to make a significant impact last season prior to suffering the setback. With a compete recovery, she will once again challenge the veterans for playing time and will likely make an impact at both ends of the field. 

A trio of freshmen will join the midfield this year, as Bridget Brown, Alexi Farmakis and Holly Kramer will bolster the unit. Brown is a versatile, athletic midfielder who will compete for a significant role at both ends of the field, while Farmakis and Kramer both possess speed and a defensive mindset and will add depth.

DEFENSE

After establishing itself as one of the nation's most prolific defensive units a season ago, the Tribe returns all its key components from last year's team that totaled a school record 227 caused turnovers and ranked third nationally with 12.6 caused turnovers per game. In addition to its impressive caused turnover statistics, the College also ranked 10th in the country with 20.9 ground balls per contest.

Leading W&M's record-breaking group once again will be senior All-American Sarah Jonson. Despite suffering a season-ending injury just 12 games into last season, the Dallas Texas native garnered multiple All-America honors and was chosen as the CAA Defensive Player of the Year. At the time of her injury, Jonson led the nation in caused turnovers per game (3.5) and ground balls per game (4.4).

A fixture in the Tribe's starting lineup last season, senior Kaitlyn Gambrell returns for her final season on defense. The defender finished last year with 22 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers while earning starts in all 18 contests. Two of her best performances came against some of the Tribe's toughest competition, as she recorded a career-high five ground balls and four caused turnovers against Duke and totaled two ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers versus Virginia.

Having earned 34 starts during her first two seasons at the College, junior Sarah Mulvey will help anchor the defensive unit again this year. A smart defender and great communicator, Mulvey was selected to the 2010 CAA All-Tournament Team and finished the season with 23 ground balls and 14 caused turnovers.

Junior Denise Lenihan was also a key player last season and appeared in all 18 games with 14 starts. After totaling 19 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers in 2010, the Fairfax, Va., native should see those numbers climb this year as she continues to establish herself as one of the league's top defenders.

Adding valuable depth to the Tribe's defensive lineup will be junior Lauren Binzer and redshirt freshman Hannah Clarke. Binzer appeared in 10 games last season and will look to earn an increased role this spring. Although Clarke redshirted in 2010, she is one of the fastest players on the Tribe's roster.

Freshman Heather McDonald joins the unit and is a strong presence and tough competitor who will add depth to the defensive unit.

GOALKEEPER

A starter during her entire career at the College, senior Emily Geary provides the Tribe with leadership and veteran experience in front of the cage. The three-time team captain is one of the most successful goalkeepers in school history, as her 500 career saves ranks second all-time at W&M. A top conference goalkeeper, she has ranked among the league's top three in saves during each of the last three seasons.

Adding depth in goal will be sophomore Katie Geary and freshman Colleen Nofi. While both are yet to earn significant experience at the collegiate level, Geary and Nofi posted standout prep careers. Geary was a three-year letterwinner at Radnor High School where she helped her team win consecutive Pennsylvania State Championships in 2008 and 2009, while Nofi was a three-year letterwinner at Cold Spring Harbor and totaled 127 saves during her senior season.