Senior Bridget Ronayne will lead a large group of returning starters for the Belles this season as they look to improve on last season's 2-13-1 record that saw them finish with a 1-8 record in the MIAA.
"Bridget is a very mature player on the field," head coach Ryan Crabbe said. "She is a good leader and her teammates respect her. Her success playing in the back for us comes from her ability to read the game and make good decisions under pressure. She is very good at minimizing mistakes which is key as a defender."
The defense that Ronayne has been such an integral part of has only allowed one goal or fewer in 24 games in her three previous seasons.
In 2007 Ronayne started every game for the Belles, recording five points for the Belles in those games while captaining the team to a 7-5 (3-3-2) record that season.
In 2008 Ronayne started 16 games, scoring three goals, and again captaining the team in Crabbe's first season.
Fellow senior Patty Duffy will look to help Ronayne on defense for the Belles in her second full season as the goalkeeper.
Duffy only appeared in one game for the Belles in 2007 playing 76 minutes, while also making five saves for the Belles.
However, in 2008, Duffy came out strong starting 13 games for the Belles while also appearing in two more, recording 81 saves for the Belles.
"Duffy has a tremendous competitive spirit," Crabbe said. "She has spent many extra hours on her own in order to get better at her position. Having a full season in 2008 and the number of minutes she played should translate into an advantage for her coming into the 2009 season that she did not have last year."
The Belles will look to these two to lead the incoming freshman class and get the team back in contention for the MIAA title.
