BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University women's lacrosse squad is set to begin its 2024 campaign with a non-conference match at rival Muhlenberg College on Wednesday, February 21 at 4:00 p.m.

Third-year Head Coach Caroline Pape enters her season with 12 returning players on the field and seven newcomers.

The Hounds return three Landmark All-Conference players led by junior attack Jackie Salvatore, who made the Second Team for the second straight year, and she was the 2022 Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year. Salvatore led the Blue & Grey in assists last year with 45 to go with 42 goals for a total of 87 points along with 35 ground balls, 15 caused turnovers and 29 draw controls. Senior defender Keara Reilly and junior midfielder Alex Cherenson joined Salvatore on the Landmark All-Conference Second Team in 2023. Reilly recorded 37 ground balls, 32 caused turnovers and a pair of goals last spring while Cherenson had 34 goals, two assists, 37 ground balls, 32 draw controls and 15 caused turnovers.

Coach Pape also has two other returners that netted at least 10 goals last season including junior midfielder Madi Dippel, who registered 27 goals, four assists, 36 ground balls, 29 draw controls and 19 caused turnovers, and graduate student attack Kendall Lomascola, who added 13 goals, 15 ground balls and nine caused turnovers. Sophomore midfielder Gianna Lotito had three goals, five assists, 23 ground balls and nine caused turnovers while sophomore midfielder Victoria Salica contributed two goals, three assists, seven ground balls and six caused turnovers.

Defensively, the Hounds are looking for a new goalie for the first time in four years and will rely on sophomore transfer Kayla Graef and freshman Elle Burd between the pipes. Senior defender Alise Downey registered an assist, 22 ground balls and seven caused turnovers a year ago while senior defender Salome Carr had 16 ground balls and seven caused turnovers. Junior midfielder Isabella Ziccardi posted eight ground balls and three caused turnovers while junior defender Leah Hoskin had five caused turnovers and three ground balls. Senior defender Olivia Williams returns after missing 2023, and she had four ground balls and a trio of caused turnovers back in 2022.

Watch a season preview video including interviews with Coach Pape, Reilly and Salvatore below.