BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb will open its 2018 lacrosse season on the road Saturday morning, traveling 35 minutes south to battle first-year program Wofford at 11:00 am in Spartanburg, S.C.

Head coach Jillian Krick enters her third season with the deepest – and fastest – roster the program has deployed since its inception in 2015. Her Runnin' Bulldogs were severely depleted last season by injuries, but the depth built through a strong recruiting class – 13 freshmen strong – should provide a solid foundation for this season and future seasons.

All-Big South performers Abby Hanscom and Amanda Steinmuller return to lead the way, with Steinmuller tying or taking over the lead in two key offensive categories in the Gardner-Webb record books last season.

Hanscom started 15 games last season and finished with 16 goals and four assists – along with 35 ground balls and 18 caused turnovers in a solid all-around season. 

Steinmuller was the catalyst all season for the Gardner-Webb offense, scoring 59 points (38 goals, 21 assists) in 17 starts. She scored five goals in a game twice and had at least three goals in six different games. She had a season-high eight points (four goals, four assists) vs. Butler on March 8, and is poised to be even better in 2018.

Krick will have plenty of experience to count on this season. In addition to the All-Conference duo, Gardner-Webb will have seniors Cassandra Fulop, Michelle Hedrick, Monique Martin and Lindsey Lippert to lead the way.

Martin returns as the team's defensive lynchpin after missing all of the 2017 season with an injury.

Junior Colleen Conn was recently elected one of the team's captains, and has been a very consistent performer during her two seasons in the program. She started 15 games last season, dishing off three assists and playing very well on the defensive end of the field. Conn collected 31 ground balls, with a season-best six against VCU and Presbyterian. 

Another upperclassmen, junior attack Catherine Fox, started 15 times last season and finished with three goals and three assists.

Sophomores Janice Donaldson and Katie Sylvester gained valuable playing time last season, with Donaldson finishing the season with three goals. Sylvester is the team's lone returning player with experience in goal, and is expected to be the starter between the pipes on Saturday at Wofford.

The large rookie class should push the Gardner-Webb veterans for early minutes.

Tori Birks, Lauren Deaver, Talen Francis and Hannah Smith each earned All-State honors during their prep careers and Hailey Maranto was a Brine All-America selection early in her high school journey.

Birks was named Virginia Class 5A State Player of the Year and Class 5A All-State in 2017, following a standout career at Potomac Falls (Va.) High.

Smith earned high school All-America honors in 2017 as well as twice earning All-State honors in Virginia. Deaver was also a two-time All-State choice in Virginia.

Francis was a two-time All-State choice in Georgia, and was very impressive during Gardner-Webb's fall exhibition game – showing off great quickness and speed.

Gardner-Webb will open its home slate with a busy weekend on February 16 and February 18, hosting Cincinnati on Friday night and welcoming first-year program East Carolina on Sunday (noon). The Runnin' Bulldogs will play eight home games this season in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium, including home Big South Conference games vs. Campbell (3/31), Radford (4/11) and Winthrop (4/21).