WALTHAM, Mass. – The No. 23 ranked Bentley University women's lacrosse team gets its 2023 season underway on Saturday when they visit No. 3 ranked West Chester. The game gets underway at 1:00 PM and the stream is available at https://psacsportsdigitalnetwork.com/wcupagoldenrams/

Saturday's game is the first of 16 regular season games on the schedule and one of four non-conference games. After Saturday's opener the Falcons play three straight Northeast-10 games, starting on Wednesday with a trip to AIC.

The home opener is on Saturday, March 4 against Southern Connecticut. A trip to Franklin Pierce on March 8 precedes a pair of games in Florida during spring break week against St. Leo and Florida Southern.

Upon returning the Falcons host Assumption on March 22 before they host Mercy on March 29 for the final non-conference game of the season. After that it's eight straight NE10 games as the push for playoff positions and seeding kicks into high gear.

Sixth year head coach Taylor Bastien, a 2013 Bentley graduate who led the program to its first NE10 championship in 2021, has another strong team ready to compete at the top of the NE10.

"We are excited to get the 2023 season underway," Bastien said. "Our players have been working hard this preseason and are eager to tackle the highly competitive schedule. We have a goal oriented and enthusiastic group and I am excited to see what they can accomplish together." 

Junior Maeve Johnson returns to lead the attack. She led the team in both goals (34) and points (47) last season in addition to 13 assists. Junior Courtney Dermody is another leading player in the attacking unit. She led the squad in assists (14) and notched 17 goals.

Senior Kenzie Lupton is the most experienced player among the attackers with 32 games played and 29 over the last two full years. She's notched eight goals in each of the last two seasons.

The midfield group is led by senior co-captain Sydney Lynch and junior Caroline Affolter. Lynch was among the team leaders in draw controls and caused turnovers in 2022. Affolter pulled down 55 draw controls, second most on the team, and scored 20 goals despite missing five games with an injury.

Another junior, Stephanie McAuliffe, is a player to watch for after she scored nine goals and had 29 draw controls as a sophomore. Senior Caroline Aufiero adds an all-around game after she notched five goals and eight draw controls in six starts last season.

Defensively the Falcons have an experienced group with four seniors, led by co-captains Katherine Hesslink and Hannah Aronowitz. Classmates Samantha Lee and Caroline Lafoe are also a part of the veteran group. Sophomore Kathryn Slattery was named second team All-Conference and to the All-Rookie team for her efforts during the 2022 season.

In the cage senior Maya Rose is the veteran of the group after she started all 16 games last season, and sophomore Ashlee Wargo will compete as well after she saw action in four games as a freshman.