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Women's Water Polo Team Gunning for Seventh Trip to the CWPA Eastern Championship
2005 Season Preview
Amy Heinemann is GW's leader in career goals-agianst average at 6.29.
 
Amy Heinemann is GW's leader in career goals-agianst average at 6.29.
  

Feb. 2, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC - In order to build on its legacy of success, the GW women's water polo team will rely on a group of talented, but young players to step in and contribute in 2005. The Colonials return just two seniors this season, and lost three of their top four scorers from a 2004 squad that posted the school's best finish at the Southern Championship (second) and advanced to the Eastern Championship for the sixth time.

Senior co-captain Kendra Shanley is the Colonials' most potent offensive threat, after GW graduated the top two scorers in team history (Vanessa Fravel and Kira Canon) in 2004. Shanley was named to the Southern Division All-Conference Second Team last season and ranked third on the team with 36 goals and 53 points. Sophomores Morgan Hooker and Jenna Burnett are also talented scorers. Hooker notched 40 goals and 51 points last year, while Burnett tallied 33 points in her rookie season. Shanley's classmate and fellow co-captain, Taraneh Bastani, contributed 17 points and 35 steals in 2004 and will again be a key contributor for the Colonials. Head Coach Scott Reed also expects sophomore Alessia Dinkel to play a larger role in the offense this season.

Junior goalie Amy Heinemann will anchor the Colonials' defense. She already ranks second at GW in career saves (382) and owns the best goals-against average in team history at 6.29. Sophomore Kaitlin Buttler-Ricketts also returns. Buttler-Ricketts made 18 saves in the cage last year and played 18 quarters in 2004.

Eleven freshmen will round out the roster and they will need to play well for the Colonials to make a return trip to the Eastern Championship. Alexandra Gourevitch and Erin Bailey will share two-meter duties with Hooker, while Sarah Stimson and Faith Goss will contribute to the squad with their all-around play. Goalkeeper Julie Jacoby will back up GW's two veterans in the cage, while Soleil Roberts, Rebecca Stein and Greta Pedraza are expected to compete for playing time. Megan Loock, Theresa Lamontagne and Julia Wetherell will also be needed to produce right away.

GW will begin the 2005 season on Saturday, Feb. 12 with matches against Villanova and Marist at the Princeton Invitational.

 

 

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