Philadelphia, Pa. - (2/18/2020) – "This is a very different team and talent level. We have a lot of new players and we will need to develop some team chemistry to compete in every game this year," assessed Head Coach Kate Scattergood. Chestnut Hill College returns five starters, including All-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Second Team performer and captain, senior attack Spencer Fitzgerald (Huntingtown, Del.) to the 2020 roster. She and fellow senior captains, attack Dai Pearson (Pottstown, Pa.) and Haley Norwillo (Duryea, Pa.), will be looked to for leadership and guidance during a 2020 campaign that includes non-conference games against Shepherd University (February 22), #22 New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) (February 25), Frostburg State University (February 29), St. Thomas Aquinas College (STAC) (March 12), Jefferson (March 17), and the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) (April 6), as well as nine contests versus their familiar league opponents.
 
Headlined by the offensive talents of Julia Reinert '19 and Fitzgerald, as well as, the versatile play of Kaley Malampy '19, and the stellar goaltending of Valeria Amaya '19, the 2019 Griffins reported a 5-10 overall record and 4-5 league standing en route to their fifth straight CACC Championship Tournament appearance. Malampy was an All-CACC First Team performer and crowned the team's Most Valuable Player (MVP) with a career-high 23 points and personal bests in goals (13) and assists (10). She was joined on the All-CACC Women's Lacrosse Team by Reinert and Fitzgerald, who both provided 40-plus goal seasons and reached career milestones in a 16-8 victory at Nyack College on April 13. As a six-time CACC Women's Lacrosse Goalkeeper of the Week (2/25, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 4/15, 4/22), Amaya garnered the 2019 Coach's Award while ranking third in the CACC in saves (175) and save percentage (.450).
 
In 2020, Coach Scattergood will heavily rely on the leadership of Fitzgerald, Pearson, and Norwillo to make up for the statistical losses that come with the graduation of a 170-goal scorer, a two-time all-region performer, and an experienced goalkeeper. Fitzgerald's captain badge is well earned as a versatile plyer who can contribute in every facet of the game. She became a member of the program's 100-goal club in the Griffins' 16-8 victory over Nyack College on April 13, 2019, and finished her junior year with 47 points (43 goals, 4 assists), 34 ground balls, 25 draw controls, and 21 caused turnovers.

Fitzgerald will be joined on attack by Norwillo, Pearson, junior Alyssa Kuykendall (Dillsburg, Pa.), and freshman Emily Abe (Hagerstown, Md.). Norwillo will look to rebound to her sophomore form (2018; 13 goals, 9 assists, 38 shots, 39 ground balls, 1 draw control, and 10 caused turnovers) after batting injury in 2019. Pearson is expected to improve on her 33-point (25 goals, 8 assists) junior season (2019). She also recorded 33 shots, 15 ground balls, 12 draw controls, and seven caused turnovers last year.
 
The midfield could serve as a weakness for Chestnut Hill College, who only returns a converted defender, junior Gab Fanfarillo (Glassboro, N.J.) to the unit. She offered six points (3 goals, 3 assists), six shots, nine ground balls, six draw controls, and three caused turnovers as a defender in 2019. Fanfarillo is joined in the midfield this year by four freshmen; Ashley Watson (Bristol, Conn.), Madyson Schwartz (Philadelphia, Pa.), as well as twins Danielle Vassallo (Hicksville, N.Y.) and Frances Vassallo (Hicksville, N.Y.).
 
The Chestnut Hill College defense returns seniors; Alexandra McCown (Scarborough, Maine) and Sabrina Castano (Paterson, N.J.), and juniors; Angela Faraglia (Clifton Heights, Mass.) and Lily Corrigan (Bristol, Pa.). McCown is the longest tenured Griffin in the unit; she is expected to captain the group after offering an assist, 22 ground balls, five draw controls, and 13 caused turnovers in 2019. Faraglia showed potential in her first season as a member of the women's lacrosse team with four points (2 goals, 2 assists), four shots, 10 ground balls, a draw control and four caused turnovers as a member of the midfield unit. Castano (13 games played - 9 games started) and Corrigan (8gp-0gs) also saw time last season and will provide McCown and Faraglia with plenty support in front of first-year goalkeepers; freshman Mel Amador (Cape May, N.J.) and senior Sabrina Shinkowitz (Stratford, N.J.). In addition to backing up Amador, Shinkowitz – a four-year starter for the Chestnut Hill College women's soccer team – will likely get the opportunity to start on defense as well.
 
Chestnut Hill College begins their 2020 season on Saturday, February 22, when they welcome Shepherd University to Victory Field #1 for a 1:30 p.m. opening draw.