Women's Lacrosse: Ohio Northern (0-0 Overall) at Hiram (0-0 Overall)

Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, 7 pm - Henry Field, Hiram, Ohio

Thursday's Preview: The Polar Bears will open their 2018 campaign with a 7 pm non-conference contest at Hiram  ... Third-year head coach Beth Hemminger welcomes back nine starters and 12 letterwinners from last year's injury-plagued squad that went 3-13 overall and 2-6 in the Ohio Athletic Conference ... The Polar Bears played games with as many as six starters sidelined by injury last year, but Hemminger believes the added experience for the younger players will pay off this season ... ONU will field an experienced and more talented team than in past years, providing a high level of optimism entering the 2018 campaign ... For the complete season preview click | here | ... Sophomore Rachel Shipman is the leading returning scorer with 26 goals, 8 assists and 34 points ... Sophomore Betsy Naugle was second with 22 goals and 24 points and sophomore Elizabeth Carter was third with 15 goals and 16 points ... Freshman Kelli Hill had 72 saves and a 12.94 GAA and Shannen Larsen Van Alstine had 88 saves and a 15.99 GAA in goal ... The Terriers return nine players from last year's squad that went 5-12 overall and were 0-8 in the North Coast Athletic Conference ... The Terriers will also rely on seven newcomers ... HC will rely on the senior group of Rachel Metcalf, Alyse Gillentine, Sierah Ray, and Kayla Cornett ... Last season, Ray tallied career highs in goals (49) assists (six) and total points (52) while ranking second in the NCAC in draw controls (109). Ray needs just 10 goals on the year to become the program's second-ever 100-goal scorer.

ONU Returning Statistical Leaders (2017 Stats):

All-Time Series: Hiram leads the series between the two schools by a 1-0 margin ... HC topped ONU 13-12 in overtime in Ada last season.

ONU head coach Beth Hemminger: Hemminger in her second season at ONU with a 10-22 record, a winning percentage of .313.