Scouting Jacobs Golden Eagles

Jacobs Golden Eagles

Last year: 3-24 (2-10 FVC Valley)

Coach: Joe Benoit (2nd year, 3-24)

Top returning players: Seniors Nicole Cook (5-8, G), Megan Mangieri (5-10, C), Tiffany Frighetto (5-7, G); junior Jennifer Barnec (5-8, F)

Key newcomers: Senior Alyssa Lach (5-5, G); junior Jessica Powell (5-5, G); freshmen Carly Sidor (5-7, G), Maggie Grady (5-10, C)

Outlook: Benoit feels his team’s lack of height could play to its advantage. “Our lack of height should be one of our strengths,” he explained. “We have a lot of quick kids who get up and down the floor and can put a lot of pressure on defensively and help create a lot of turnovers.” Benoit likes what he’s seen in preseason practices. “The kids worked extremely hard this off-season,” he said. “There’s a lot of commitment here. They have bought into the system we’ve put in place that fits the personnel we have. They have bought into our style of pressure defense and pushing the ball on offense.” Benoit said the group is motivated to put last year’s 3-24 mark in the rearview mirror. “I think the kids are hungry to prove they are a new team and fully capable of getting the program back to the top of the FVC, which we are capable of,” he said. “This is a young team that doesn’t have a lot of varsity minutes, but it’s a group that embraces it and is excited about the new season. This team will look much different from last year. It’s going to be interesting at the beginning of the season as the girls find their roles and we mix-and-match lineups. As simple as it may sound, one of the girls’ goals is to get a little better every day. We feel really good about this season. There is a lot of energy here.” Benoit said the FVC Valley will be competitive once again. “There are no easy games on the schedule this year,” he said. Lach was not on the team as a junior, but was on the varsity as a sophomore.