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Megan Mangone with her NHWGA Amateur trophy. |
Globe North sports notebook
Local players earn berths on US team
Katy Fitzgerald thought trying out for the United States developmental women’s lacrosse team would be a good experience. Making the team?
“I just didn’t see it coming,’’ said the former North Andover High standout, one of three local players recently selected to the US squad.
Fitzgerald will joined by two Andover natives, one of her teammates at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Jennifer Russell, and Dartmouth College senior Julie Wadland.
Russell and Wadland are making their second appearance on the 24-player roster, which was chosen after a two-day tryout at the University of Maryland’s Baltimore County campus.
The US Elite team, which competes for the World Cup, will eventually be chosen from the developmental team.
“I am so excited, really pumped about making the team,’’ said Fitzgerald, a midfielder who this spring helped North Carolina reach the NCAA Division 1 championship game. “Making the team surpassed anything I could have hoped for.’’
Fitzgerald played lacrosse, soccer, and basketball and ran track at North Andover High, and was the Cape Ann League’s girls’ lacrosse MVP in 2007.
Russell had a breakout junior season for the Tar Heels. She pumped in a team-high 38 goals - 15 more than her first two years combined - and logged 10 assists for 48 points, including a pair of goals and an assist in the team’s 16-5 loss to
“It’s a real honor and a great opportunity for me to be able to play with the best women lacrosse players in the country,’’ said Russell, a midfielder who was a two-time All-America selection in her days playing for the Brooks School in North Andover.
“Playing with the best makes you better and I am looking forward to it. When you have different coaches than what you have during the college season, it helps develop you as a player. I can’t say enough good things about the organization and the people who run it.’’
Wadland has been a stalwart in the Dartmouth goal for the past three seasons. This spring, she played 964 minutes - all but 11 minutes and 41 seconds of the season - and posted a 7-8 record with 124 saves and a goals-against average of 10.2. She was a first-team All-Ivy League pick after ranking first in save percentage and saves.
“I feel really fortunate to have this opportunity to play on the developmental team for a second straight year,’’ said Wadland, who played at Phillips Academy in Andover, where she posted a 45-10 record in four seasons between the pipes.
“The US program is a wonderful thing and it’s pretty special to be playing with some of the best women in the country.’’ Noting that she already knows both Russell and Fitzgerald, “it will be fun to play with them,’’ Wadland said.
Russell, Fitzgerald, and Wadland will make their Team USA debut Oct. 11 at the US Lacrosse Stars & Stripes Tournament in Alexandria, Va., where the development squad will line up against the varsity teams from North Carolina and James Madison.
“It will be strange to be playing against my teammates,’’ said Russell. “I mean, North Carolina is the team I play for, and those players are my friends. At the same time, though, it will be exciting to see how it goes.’’
Mangone cruises to N.H. Amateur
After finishing second in three straight New Hampshire Women’s Golf Association Amateur Championships, Megan Mangone finally broke through this summer.The Windham resident, a recent graduate of Lynn University in Florida, fired a course-record 65 in the first round and never looked back en route to a convincing 10-shot victory on Aug. 6 at North Conway Country Club.
In her historic round, Mangone carded birdies on eight holes, including a stretch of four straight on numbers 10 through 13, on the par-71, 5,774-yard layout, and grabbed an eight-shot lead over Mary Armstrong of Souhegan Woods CC.
She then cruised home with rounds of 74 and 75 for a 214 total, well ahead of Dana Harrity (75-79-70-224) of Abenaqui CC.
Around and about
Bentley University senior pitcher Jarrod Marchesi of Peabody ranked 19th in the NCAA in walks per nine innings this spring, averaging 1.31. As a team, Bentley topped the nation with 1.93 walks per nine innings. Junior shortstop Charlie Pagliarulo of Medford was tied for 29th in triples with 5 and 30th in doubles with 21. . . . Merrimack College will launch its hockey season Oct. 9 and 10 with a two-game series at the University of North Dakota. The Warriors make their home debut Oct. 16 against Holy Cross, and open Hockey East play Oct. 23 at home against Vermont. . . . The University of Massachusetts at Lowell has named Sean Cotter its new softball coach. After 10 years coaching at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, Cotter will be succeeding Harry Sauter, who retired after 15 years. At Plattsburgh, Cotter was 254-172 with 10 straight appearances in the SUNY Athletic Conference playoffs. He inherits a UMass team that went 10-31-1 this spring. . . . The Middleton 10-year-old All-Stars went 15-0 this summer in winning the District 15 Jimmy Fund and Newburyport tournaments. Middleton received strong pitching from Steven Heintzlman, Elias Varinos, and Michael Ouellette, solid infield play from Samuel Stone, Marcus Lavalle, Jack Connors, Dylan Goodwin, and Dylan Toumayan, and outstanding outfield defense from Adam Story, Ryan Veguilla, and Alex Cameron.Ideas or information may be sent to JohnPVel@aol.com. 
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