Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. - Set to begin its 2010 fall season, the Virginia Tech lacrosse team looks to continue improving as a unit as it enters the off-season play with a new look and a young squad. First-year head coach Megan Burker and her newly assembled staff will face their first test this fall after losing just one senior from last year’s squad and welcoming eight newcomers.
The Hokies return 11 starters from last year’s team and great depth, as seven players come back after seeing time in the majority of the games last season and will compete for starting jobs. Senior Allie Emala returns after setting a new career draw controls record at Tech, upping her count to 185 last season, while she also beat her own record of draw controls in a season after tallying 88 last year. Junior Jessica Nonn also stormed the record books in her sophomore outing as she now ranks sixth in career caused turnovers (58), and is tied for fourth and eighth in single-season caused turnovers (30) and ground balls (45), respectively. Nonn’s 36 goals last season also ties her for 10th all-time on the single-season goals list.
Tech has five dates set in its fall schedule, including three play days, a date at Virginia and an inter-squad, Maroon and Orange scrimmage. The fall season will begin on Sunday, Sept. 26 as the team heads to Johns Hopkins for an all day affair. While in Baltimore, Tech will face Loyola, Mount St. Mary’s and host Johns Hopkins.
“This weekend will be a great opportunity for our team to open against some tough opponents and set a tone for our fall season,” said Burker. “Our group has worked hard in practice, bringing great energy to our training and we’re excited to show that over the next four weeks.”
The following weekend Tech will host its own play day as it welcomes Longwood, Davidson, High Point and Pfeiffer. This event will preview some spring competition for the Hokies as three of the four teams are likely opponents for the regular season. Following the play day, the team will host a clinic the following day, Sunday, Oct. 3.
The Hokies will return to action on Thursday, Oct. 7, as they travel to Charlottesville for a taste of ACC play at 7 p.m. This will be another big test for the squad, as it looks to battle in the powerful conference this season.
After an inter-squad scrimmage on Friday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m., Tech will close out its fall season with all day play at Duke, where it will face the Blue Devils, Florida, Longwood and James Madison. This will be the Hokies’ final test of the off-season and provide Burker and her staff with an opportunity to evaluate the team’s progress and begin preparation for the upcoming 2011 season.