Sage taps four to serve as 2012 Women's Lacrosse Team Captains
Troy, NY ---The Sage Colleges has announced the team captains for the 2012 women’s lacrosse team. Head Coach Pete Stapleton has selected senior Ginelle Butler (Malta, NY/Ballston Spa), juniors Erika Jackson (Cortland, NY/Dryden) and Alexa Veeder (Earlton, NY/Academy of the Holy Names) and sophomore Alayna Kaiser (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa) to serve as the team leaders for the upcoming season.
Stapleton said of the 2012 captains, “I'm excited to have all four as captains this year.” He added, “Erika and Ginelle, who are returning players, will use their experiences over their time at Sage to help lead our program. With the addition of Alexa and Alayna, our program is well-suited to build and move forward. Each of our captains brings a unique perspective, skill set, and the confidence and support of their teammates to their role with the program.
Butler, a three-year starter for the Gators is also the young program’s most prolific scorer. She brings 34 career points into the season having scored 30 goals and four assists in 32 games started. A year ago, she finished as the top scorer with 14 goals.
Jackson, who is a two-year letterwinner for the Gators and has started 22 games in her time at Sage. She has connected on a pair of goals and 31 ground ball pickups as a member of the defensive unit.
Veeder comes to Sages’ women’s lacrosse program after excelling scholastically at Academy of the Holy Names, where she was a three-time lacrosse team MVP and captain. A talented midfielder, she should help to both anchor the defense while adding scoring ability for the Gators. She comes to came after attending Methodist University.
Kaiser was a member of the lacrosse team at Shenendahowa, where she earned the Coaches’ Defense Award. A midfielder, Kaiser is a former high school team captain.
The 2012 Gators return six letterwinners from last season’s team including junior goalkeeper Courtney Reed (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville). Reed will look to overtake the career saves record as she enters the season, just one shy of the career mark set last year at 167. Reed, who was 0-2 in goal last season with 18 saves in six appearances.
Stapleton noted, “We are not only focused on improving today, but building a respected conference program. Our captains are an integral part of the entire process, and each takes their role seriously as they help rewrite the record books for Sage Women's Lacrosse.”
Sage will open the 2012 season on March 9 hosting Regis College in a noon contest, which will take place at RPI’s Renwyck Field. The team returns to action the very next day hosting Utica College at Renwyck Field in a 1 p.m. non-conference match. The Gators compete as a member of the Skyline Conference and will open league play on March 24 when they host the College of Mt. St. Vincent at Renwyck Field in a 5 p.m. match. All told, the Gators will face 14 opponents in the regular-season with seven home contests on the docket.
