BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College women's lacrosse team is ready to begin its 2017 season on Saturday, February 25 with a non-conference match versus FDU-Florham beginning at 12:00 p.m. on John Makuvek Field, the Greyhounds' first-ever match on the turf complex.

Second-year Head Coach Kristen Nicholson has 11 players returning from last year's squad that posted a 6-10 record in the program's first varsity season in five years. Nicholson will guide the Blue and Grey in their first Landmark Conference campaign this spring since 2010.

Nicholson's offensive unit will be led by sophomore midfielder/attack Jillian Picciuto, who was named the 2016 ECAC Division III South Rookie of the Year and earned a spot on the ECAC Division III South All-Star First Team. Picciuto finished her debut seasons with school records of 64 goals, 38 assists (which is also the Moravian career record) and 102 points, and she also recorded 74 draw controls, 33 ground balls and 17 caused turnovers.

Sophomore attack Jessica Pisano netted 30 goals and added eight assists last spring to go with 10 ground balls and three caused turnovers while junior midfielder Alexis Kersten had 16 goals, one assist, 41 ground balls, 24 draw controls and 19 caused turnovers. Sophomore attacks Kyleigh Miller and Dalia Aguilar both scored 12 goals last spring with Miller adding two assists, 15 ground balls and five draw controls while Aguilar contributed 19 ground balls, 13 draw controls and 11 caused turnovers. Junior attack Kyleigh McGovern had seven goals, two assists, 17 ground balls, five draw controls and five caused turnovers for the Hounds.

Nicholson will look to sophomores Jacqueline LaCava and Melissa Webber to anchor the defense. LaCava had two goals and an assist last spring to go along with 22 ground balls, nine caused turnovers and five draw controls while Webber contributed a goal, two assists, 36 ground balls, 16 caused turnovers and 15 ground balls. Sophomore midfielder Cassidy Patterson is also back to help on defense.

Moravian also returns both of its goalies in sophomore Kelley Gavin and junior Elisabeth Pontius. Gavin had a 6-8 record while posting a 13.07 goals-against average, 117 saves and 20 ground balls in 766 minutes of action, and Pontius had 21 saves and three ground balls while playing 194 minutes.

Coach Nicholson has seven new players this spring including one transfer as Moravian looks to challenge in the Landmark Conference.