Women’s team welcomes 12 freshmen athletes
POULTNEY – One team, one family. That is the mindset the Green Mountain College women’s basketball team is taking into the upcoming 2015-16 season as it looks forward to building the program through a strong incoming class.
The Eagles are coming off of a tumultuous season in 2014-15 in which the team failed to register a win and endured a mid-season head coaching change. Part of the growth the team hopes to achieve this year will start with consistency. One important piece of that will be the return of Head Coach Jonathan Lamiotte who took over the reins of the program in February of last season.
“Last year’s team faced many challenges and obstacles, but they were determined to fight through them with a goal of getting better and finishing strong,” said Lamiotte. “I couldn’t have been more proud of them for the effort they put forth. Their effort and fortitude paved the path for the 2015-2016 season and the incoming student-athletes. Now, with a reloaded lineup and a drive to succeed, the 2015-2016 women’s basketball team will look to help bring back the program’s winning ways. With patientce, hard-work, and determination I believe this team and program can make that happen.”
One of the barriers to overcome for Lamiotte this year will be how to integrate a large group of freshmen into a system and breed competition and success. Part of that equation will be the leadership shown by the team’s three key returners, seniors Torie Cowell (Rochester, N.Y.), Hayley Loisel (Tolland, Conn.) and Keelin Banks (Wilmot, N.H.).
This year’s roster will be adorned with 12 freshmen faces. The team’s future lies in the hands of this young group and the amount of success the team has this year will be measured by how quickly this cohort of players is able to adjust to the collegiate game while continuing to make adjustments and learn on the fly throughout the season.
The Eagles will get a first-hand report on how the team has meshed thus far when it opens the season on Nov. 19 at Vermont Tech. The team’s next game will be its season home opener against Fisher on Nov. 23, while the NAC portion of the schedule kicks off on Dec. 2 on the road against Colby-Sawyer.
