WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - This year’s Lycoming College women’s lacrosse team may be one of the most playoff-ready squads in memory. Second-year head coach Erica Brown will guide a program that has vast postseason experience. This group of seniors has reached the Middle Atlantic Conference tournament each season since arriving on campus, including two semifinal appearances in their freshman and sophomore campaigns.

Last season, Brown guided her squad to a 9-9 overall mark and a 7-4 record in the MAC, earning a spot in the 2009 conference playoffs.

Brown has brought in some quality assistant coaches to join her on the sidelines. Lindsay Rentel and Lynnette Reitz played at NCAA Division II Lock Haven University, a national championship contender.

Rentel, a 2007 graduate of the LHU, played in two semifinal games. In 2006, she was named an IWLCA/US Lacrosse second team All-American. Her main focus this season will be with the offense.

Reitz, who graduated in 2009, looks to make the transition to lacrosse after concluding the fall season as an assistant for the Lady Warriors’ soccer team. A defender on the soccer and lacrosse fields at LHU, Reitz’s focus will be with the solid defensive unit, as well as conditioning.

Experience will be the key to success for this season’s squad as all four of its leading scorers from a year ago return, as well as two of its top defenders.

“These seniors have seen a lot of tough competition in their careers,” said Brown. “They have a lot of big-game experience and even cracked the national rankings their sophomore year.”

Lycoming returns a defensive core of three seniors that started all 18 games as a unit last season. Danielle Gargiulo brings the most experience to the line, having started in 49 games during her career. A second-team all-conference selection, Garguilo was fourth in the league in caused turnovers with 38. She also grabbed a team second-best 39 groundballs. She will be joined by senior Alex DeWitt, who picked up 17 groundballs and caused six turnovers. Ashley Steel, a smaller, athletic defender, will round out the back three. Last year, she grabbed 32 groundballs and earned 24 draw controls

A trio of seniors looks to lead the Warriors through the midfield. A Metro-Region All-American and second-team all-conference selection Justine Titko will continue to be looked upon to score goals for the Warriors. In 2009, she was the team’s leading scorer, recording 67 points (44g, 23a).

On the draws, Lycoming had the third-most draw controls per game in the MAC, averaging 15.28. Sammi Jo Bell is a force in the draw game, using aggressive play and coming up with 67 controls. Brianna Robertson was just behind Titko in goals (44) while also scooping up 33 groundballs and 31 draw controls.

Grace Gargiulo, sister of defender Danielle, made an immediate impact in her rookie campaign. After posting 21 goals and 11 assists as a freshman, Grace will round out the fourth midfield spot.

On attack, Lycoming returns senior Megan McIntyre for her final season. A year ago, she was tied for first on the team in points (67), stemming from 38 goals and 29 assists. Her ability to pass the ball ranked her fifth in the conference in assists per game (1.71). Coming off the bench last season was Amanda Baker, who will step into a much larger role for Lycoming this year. In 2009, she saw time in 15 games, making one start and finishing with 21 points (16g, 5a).

Between the pipes, two goalkeepers split time for the Lady Warriors. Senior Brittany Bryan was given the difficult task of replacing the most successful goalie in the program’s history in Kristina Peacock, who graduated in 2008 with 702 career saves. Bryan made 134 saves in her first year as a starter. Junior Libby Stoesz will push Bryan for serious playing time this season. In 2009, she saw minutes in 12 games, including two starts, making 31 saves.

With her first recruiting class, Brown brought in some high-caliber talent. Freshman Brooke Strausser was named first team all-county in back-to-back seasons and was Berks County’s Offensive Most Valuable Player. One defense, Hope Pappas brings All-Central honorable mention accolades and was named the team’s defensive Most Valuable Player.

The Lady Warriors open their season on the road against the Green Terror of McDaniel College on Saturday, Feb. 27. The first draw is set for 1 p.m.