Winter Park, FL - During the course of growing up we all learn that there is only one constant in life, change, and change came to the world of Division II lacrosse and Adelphi University in the summer of 2014. The first change came in the form of a landscape shift, as the NCAA Division II Women's Lacrosse National Championship trophy moved from Brookville, New York, where it had been for the past two seasons, back to Garden City, for the sixth time in program history. This marked Adelphi's move back to the center of the women's lacrosse world, now all the remains is to find out how long the Panthers reign will be this time.

There is also change at the top, with a new head coach on the sidelines at Adelphi University, tasked with making this new reign another Brown and Gold Dynasty. The new face pacing the sidelines this year is living lacrosse legend, Pat McCabe. McCabe, a four-time All-American and National Lacrosse Hall of Famer, brings decades of lacrosse experience as a player and coach.

"This is an exciting opportunity for me but it's really about the team," McCabe stated. "There is a championship culture at Adelphi and I look forward to helping our players maintain the high standard set by the teams that have come before us."

There is also change on the field for the Panthers, as Adelphi lost multiple All-Americans, and the NCAA Division II Defensive Player of The Year, both of which are nothing new for the Brown and Gold. However, there is a strong group of quality veterans to step into the leadership void and a promising crop of new faces on campus to add depth.

"This team will look a bit different than we did a year ago.  Obviously, we lost some very talented players that were an important part of last year's championship run," McCabe explained. "But, our roster is fairly deep and I look forward to getting contributions from some different people this year.  The core of our team is well established and I believe our depth will be one of our strengths."

This year's senior class is striving to keep change at bay, and go out on top. The group includes All-Americans Alexa Froccaro and Felicia Mills, along with dynamo midfielder Danielle Jaycox and tenacious defender Lauren Janelli.

There is a great sense of pride and determination that shines through with this group of young women.  Our seniors have been waiting for their time to lead and are making the most of their opportunity.  It's easy to talk the talk, but this group walks the walk each and every day.  Whether it be their work in the weight room or their attention to detail and work ethic in practice, our seniors set the tone for how we are going to do things.   As a first year coach, I am fortunate to have such a group, not only for the skill and playing ability but for their passion and strength of character.
 
Goalkeeper
Adelphi is deep and experienced in the cage, led by Northeast-10 Goalkeeper of The Year, junior Taylor Hayes. Hayes started 20 of 22 games last season, playing an impressive 1147 minutes in net with 73 stops and an NCAA leading 4.81 goals against average.

The Panthers also have the luxury of an experienced back-up and a talented newcomer in junior Taylor Langston and freshman Hailey Peterson. Langston is the insurances, having appeared in five games last year and made three stops, while Peterson could be the future, earning All-District and All-Region honors at Park Vista High School in Lake Worth, Florida.

Defense
The Brown and Gold return four of their five starting defenseman from a year ago, however the loss of reigning NCAA Division II Defender of the Year and All-American Jacqueline Williams leave a large hole void in Adelphi's backer zone. But, the addition of Williams to the coaching staff should ease the blow, as she can pass on the nuances of the zone to the newcomers.

Janelli is the feisty leader of the Panther defense, playing as a starter since day one in Garden City. Joining Janelli in the back are Junior and Inside Lacrosse Magazine Sleeper pick, Camille Rosellini, along with Sophomores Ryley Weber and Jen Graham. That quartet appeared in every game last year, helping hold opponents to just 4.55 goals per contest.

Joining the core are freshman Kelly Sinclair, Gabriela Briseno and Kaitlyn Stackpole. Sinclair and Briseno will bring depth to the formerly shallow defensive unit, while 2014 CHSAA Player of The Year, Stackpole is penciled in as the next great Adelphi stopper.

Midfield
One thing that will not change in 2015 is the athleticism and speed of the Adelphi midfield, led by All-Americans Froccaro, draw control phenom, Felicia Mills and speedster Jaycox. It all starts and stops with Mills, who sets the table for the Panther offense, setting an Adelphi single season record for Draw Controls with 179 in 2014.

Froccaro, the 2014 NCAA Division II Final Four Most Outstanding Player, is an offensive force, topping 100 points last season for the first time in her career, courtesy of 74 goals and 29 assists. Jaycox is the heartbeat of the Panthers, giving 100% effort on both sides of the ball, as evidenced by her 41 goals and 27 caused turnovers in 2014.

Four returners, Kate Beier, Emily Keesling, Gianna Gallo and Kelly Osmulski bring veteran depth to the unit, with 50 combined points, while Michele Scannell, Beth Ann Pierce and Kateri Brooks bring youth and promise to a top flight group.  The addition of Graduate Student Stephanie Marran brings additional offense, big game experience and maturity.

Attack
Change continues down throughout the Panther line-up, this time with the loss of All-American attacker and 2014 points leader Devan Crimi. However, the Brown and Gold return the other 2/3's of their potent attack from a year ago in the form of junior Rachel O'Brien and sophomore and Garden City product Jackie Jahelka.

Jahelka earned All-America status in just her first go around in Garden City, scoring 61 goals and added 12 assists, while O'Brien was an All-Northeast-10 and All-ECAC selection after notching 42 goals to go along with 28 helpers. Veteran returners Rachel Aitkens and Danielle Montano got some run up front last year and are in play for the vacant starting spot, along with red-shirts Jill Graziano, Casey Zalewski and Natalie Badolato.

Aitkens came up large on the biggest stage a year ago, scoring two goals and adding an assist during the Final Four, including two points in the National Championship game. Montano was steady all season, playing in 11 games, scoring three goals and picking up three assists.

The trio of Graziano, Zalewski and Badolato spent last season learning the Panther offense and going up against the best defense in Division II and have spent the past few months showing that their ready to push for playing time. Newcomers Chandley Borges, Danielle Sinacori and Allison Schneider make the front line even deeper and could see time at attack and in midfield as needed.

Schedule
The Panthers 2015 schedule features six teams that are currently ranked among the top-20 in Division II, including kicking things off in Florida against #18 Rollins College on February 22 and #9 Florida Southern College on February 24.

They return to camps with their final non-conference game on March 7 against CACC opponent Philadelphia University. While the entire Northeast-10 slate of games is a minefield there are four games to circle on your calendar, starting with a March 17 contest at home tenth ranked against Saint Anselm College.

The final three games against top-20 teams happen to be the final three games of the season, #12 Stonehill College, #6 University of New Haven and #7 LeMoyne College on April 18, 22 and 25.

Change is constant, but there is some change that the Panther are trying to hold off, a change at the top of the Division II lacrosse mountain and it all starts February 22.