SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) has released the results of its pre-season coaches’ polls for the Spring 2012 season. Listed below are the rankings for each of Curry College’s five spring teams, along with a preview featuring each team’s key returning players.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE: 4th of 8

Curry (16-4, 9-2) welcomes back six key starters for the upcoming season, including starting goalkeeper Maria Lynch, who posted a goals against average of 11.00, to go along with 182 saves (.462 save percentage). The Colonels’ backline was anchored last season by defenders Mel Brickey and Ana Bottary. In 2011, Brickey ranked second on the team in ground balls (49), won 39 draw controls, and tallied 47 caused turnovers, Bottary, a Second Team All-CCC selection, finished the season with 69 points (55 goals, 14 assists). Rounding out key returners for Curry includes senior defenders Heather Breton (21 ground balls, 16 draw controls, 13 caused turnovers) and Michaela Powers (27 ground balls, 15 draw controls, 33 caused turnovers), and sophomore center Kaitlin Cloutier, who finished out her rookie season tallying 15 points (13 goals, 2 assists), collecting 16 ground balls, and winning 10 draw controls.

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SOFTBALL: 5th of 10

The Curry (22-22, 14-10) squad returns only one senior, with a core of young standouts. Leadership is expected of senior outfielder Caitlin Luquet, who missed the 2011 season due to injury last year. The 2009 CCC Rookie of the Year led her team in every offensive category in her inaugural campaign. Junior second baseman/shortstop Amanda Felzmann comes off a season where she ranked second on the team in batting average (.312), with only six strikeouts in 93 at bats, and proved to be a versatile middle infielder. Sophomore standout pitcher Jennifer Lundstrom led Curry with an ERA of 2.06 and 82 strikeouts over 78 innings pitched, and was voted the Colonels’ Co-Rookie of the Year with Taryn Vigeant. Vigeant, a sophomore outfielder, led the team with a .342 batting average, two triples, 22 RBI, and 41 hits. Sophomore shortstop/third baseman Megan Flaherty, the 2011 Team MVP, started all 44 contests in her rookie season, and led the team in at bats (136), stolen bases (12-of-15), walks (24), and hits (41). Sophomore catcher/first baseman Heather Carrier, the team’s tri-captain collected 35 hits to rank third on the team.

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BASEBALL: 6th of 9

Curry College (17-24, 9-13) has a tremendous amount of talent and experience returning for the 2012 campaign. Leading the team this season will be junior outfielder/first baseman, Sam Barron. Barron led the team with a .392 batting average in 29 games played, and earned a spot on the 2011 All-CCC Second Team for his efforts. Sophomore outfielder Kyle Connors was an All-CCC Honorable Mention selection last season after batting .259 with 16 RBI. Also returning to the diamond is Carlos Cornejo, a four-year starter at the shortstop position, the speedy junior outfielder Shayne McDonald (.272 BA, 14-of-14 in stolen base attempts), and senior first baseman Matt Drew (.362 BA, 10 doubles, 24 RBI). On the mound, sophomore Matt O’Neill returns after leading the team in ERA (3.71), innings pitched (43.2), and in strikeouts (33).

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MEN’S LACROSSE: 7th of 9

Curry College (5-11, 2-8) comes into the 2012 season with a solid returning class filled with leadership and experience. After a hard fought 2011 crusade in which they came up just short of a bid to the CCC tournament, the team has high hopes to bounce back into the tournament. Curry will be led by 2011 All-CCC Honorable Mention selection and 2012 Inside Lacrosse Magazine First Team member, junior Joseph Natale. Natale led the team’s offensive charge from the attack position last season after netting 39 goals and having a stick in 16 others. The team plans to turn to the trio of senior captains Russell Lanham (midfielder), Michael Hibbard (goalie), and Sean Gallagher (attacker) as its leaders throughout the season.

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MEN’S TENNIS: 9th of 9

Curry College (3-13, 2-9) is aiming to earn a bid to the conference tournament after missing it for the first time since 2004, snapping a six-year run. Senior Thomas Bagley led the team with six wins at #6 singles and tallied six more wins when paired up at #3 doubles. Junior Tyler Collins posted four wins of his own at #4 singles and tallied another four at #1 doubles. The duo looks to lift the Colonels to a successful 2012 season.

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