Experienced Pirate Defense Prepares For 2019 Season

GREENVILLE, N.C. – After a season where the defense had minimal collegiate experience, the ECU women's lacrosse team will have a defensive unit full of returners.

"Right now, we are probably the most experienced on the defensive end of the ball in terms of returners and in the cage," said head coach Amanda Barnes Moore. "We've had a tremendous level of competition in our defensive core both this fall and in preseason. We've also had the addition of two freshmen goalies to challenge (Christina) White in the cage."

The Pirates will look to Amy Jarvis, Jordyn Cox and Sam Caputo to provide the backbone of the defense. Jarvis and Cox both played in all 17 games last season, starting 16 of them apiece. Jarvis scooped up 15 groundballs and forced eight turnovers while Cox had 14 groundballs and five caused turnovers. Caputo moves to the defense after spending her freshman season in the midfield. Caputo showed a knack for the ball last season, scooping up 15 groundballs and snatching 15 draw controls.

Also providing experience on the backline will be sophomores Hannah Melton, Hannah Ross and Lydia Carbuccia while freshmen CeCe Bartley, Cassidy Slavik, and Hillary Hardig will try to make an impact in their rookie seasons.

Returning in the goal for ECU is sophomore goalkeeper Christina White. White played in 14 games last season and made 64 saves. The Mount Airy, Md., product had a save percentage of .368 on the 234 shots she faced.

Joining the program are freshmen goalkeepers Sophie Bandorick and Savvy Smith. Bandorick comes from Ocean City, Md., and she led Worchester Prepatory School to four consecutive EASIC Championship titles and four straight EASIC Tournament Championships. Bandorick left Worchester as the school's career saves leader with 425. Smith is a native of Millersville, Md., where she helped lead St. Mary's Annapolis to 36 wins during her prep career.

ECU opens its season with a pair of home games inside Johnson Stadium next weekend. The season opener is one Friday, Feb. 8 at 4 p.m, against Winthrop, followed by a 1 p.m., game on Sunday, Feb. 10 against Gardner-Webb.

Players Mentioned

Sophie Bandorick

Sam Caputo

Lydia Carbuccia

Jordyn Cox

Hillary Hardig

Amy Jarvis

Hannah Melton

Hannah Ross

Cassidy Slavik

Savvy Smith

Christina White

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