Note: There is no webcast of today's game.Live Stats Staten Island, NY - The Wagner women's lacrosse team, under the direction of first-year head coach
Katie Rowan and led by 2015 Northeast Conference (NEC) Midfielder of the Year,
Shea Gegan (Belmar, NJ/Manasquan), opens the 2016 season today with a 3:00 p.m. contest at Iona.
The Seahawks, who have reached the NEC championship game in each of the last two seasons, were picked second in the 2016 Northeast Conference (NEC) Preseason Poll. Wagner will be looking to unseat Bryant, who has defeated the Seahawks in the last two title games and was tabbed No. 1 in this year's preseason rankings.
In addition to Rowan, the 2016 Seahawk coaching staff includes second-year assistant coach
Katrina Martinelli and first-year assistant
Leah Gallagher.
"I think we're very deep overall and extremely accomplished in many areas," said Rowan, a former Syracuse assistant coach who was also one of the most decorated players in Orange history and a member of the 2009 and 2013 USA World Cup gold medalist teams. "In the fall and preseason, we did a lot of teaching and I think we've raised our players' lacrosse I.Q. levels and their overall awareness on the field.
"I think they've grown as players and have a different understanding of things and what we're looking for as a coaching staff," she added. "Our senior class is so strong and the vast majority will likely be starters."
The Green & White return one of the nation's best in senior midfielder
Shea Gegan (Belmar, NJ/Manasquan), who was the first recipient of the NEC Midfielder of the Year award last spring. The NEC Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore, Gegan led the nation last season in both caused turnovers (3.64/game) and ground balls (4.26/game), while also pacing the Seahawks with 36 goals, 25 assists and 61 points. She was also the first player in program history to be named an IWLCA Division I All-Regional selection, earning a spot on the second team.
The 5-10 Gegan will enter her senior season in 2016 ranked No. 1 all-time at Wagner in caused turnovers (172), No. 2 in ground balls (183), No. 5 in assists (49) and draw controls (107), No. 9 in total points (128) and No. 11 in goals (79).
All told, the Seahawks return their top four scorers from a year ago. Junior attack
Olivia Streilein (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) was the team's second-leading scorer in 2015 behind Gegan with 41 points, while senior midfielder
Gretchen Fay (Spring Lake Heights, NJ/Manasquan) and senior attack
Stephanie Peterson (Vernon, NJ/Vernon Township) were third and fourth in scoring a year ago with 34 and 33 points, respectively.
Wagner also returns junior defender
Amanda Rey (Turnersville, NJ/Washington Township), who earned second team All-NEC honors last season after ranking second among Seahawks with 42 ground balls on the year.
The 2016 Seahawks are comprised of 10 seniors, three juniors, seven sophomores and nine freshmen.
Follow Wagner Athletics on Twitter (@WagnerAthletics) for all the latest news and updates on the athletic department and @WagnerWlax for information specific to the Seahawk women's lacrosse team.
