After posting the best season in program history (13-4) and winning the team's third SCAC Championship in six years the Lynx look to the experience of 16 returning players including 8 returning starters to push the team to the next level in 2010. The team returns the entire starting offense and midfield from the 2009 squad including senior Lindsey Gurkovich, who has contributed 27 goals and 18 assists in her first three seasons at Rhodes. The Lynx will rely heavily on a squad of 8 seniors, including All American center midfielder Charlie Wagner, to lead the team this fall. 

 
        Rhodes will play a challenging schedule in 2010 including an opening weekend trip to Newport News, VA to take on Randolph Macon and Christopher Newport, a team that is a mainstay in the NCAA Tournament bracket. In addition to conference games the Lynx will also face regional rivals Kenyon and Denison this fall at Centre the second weekend of the season. One late test for the squad will be a mid October matchup with Washington and Lee in which the Lynx will look to revenge last year's overtime loss. The 2010 schedule will provide plenty of challenges but also set the team up well for success with many home games in the later part of the season. 

 
        In addition to Gurkovich, the Lynx return Libby Jones, Chelsea McLeod, and Hillary Relyea to the offense this fall. Relyea, a senior and leader on the team, returns to campus and the team after a semester abroad in South Africa during which she was able to play hockey and get excited about rejoining her teammates this fall. Jones and McLeod combined for 9 goals and 5 assists in 2009 and both served as primary playmakers on the offensive end. Junior Taylor Mills and sophomore Sarah Ferguson will serve as the supporting cast for this crew with Ferguson likely earning many minutes in the midfield as well. Transfer sophomore Katie Faucher from Jefferson, MA (Tabor Academy) will look to put a few into the cage for the Lynx this season and find her niche within the offensive unit this fall. 

 
        The Lynx's dynamic midfield will again be led by senior center midfielder Charlie Wagner, a three time All SCAC and First Team All Region selection and 2009 Third Team All American honoree. Her support will come from fellow senior Libby Feaster and junior Sarah Kennedy, keeping last year's starting midfield intact. The trio combined for 13 goals, including 6 game winners, and 8 assists last fall. Sophomores Sarah Ferguson and Marie Mason will support the team in the midfield and freshman Regan McLaughlin (Fairfax, VA; W.T. Woodson HS) will put in minutes in the midfield as well. Mason, the Lynx utility player, is likely to contribute her speed and athleticism in many positions for Rhodes this fall. 

 

        Senior Rachel Webb and junior Sara Sanders will hold down the defense this year, both returning from last year's starting lineup at sweeper and center defender. Seniors Kelly Prak and Alyssa Nucaro will combine with a talented group of freshmen including Regan McLaughlin, Samantha Anscher (Chapel Hill; East Chapel Hill HS) and Julia Price (Highland Park, IL; North Shore Country Day) to round out the defensive squad this fall. Although the Lynx will miss the presence of Third Team All American Meghan Cullen in goal, a trio of goalkeepers will be ready to step in to the role. Sophomore Jordan Robinson and senior Sarah Dockery will be joined in the goal cage by freshman Kelly Whelan (Bethesda, MD; Holy Child).

 

        With 21 players on the roster the Lynx look to utilize and rely on their depth and experience this fall. The team has its sights set on a strong run at defending their 2009 SCAC championship and improving upon their 13-4 record last fall. Rhodes opens the season with a match against Randolph Macon (at Christopher Newport) at 11 am on Saturday September 4th.