THROGGS NECK, NY - The Maritime College women's lacrosse team is looking to build off of their highly successful 2019 season behind a strong core of returners and a promising group of newcomers in 2020. 

In 2019, the Privateers reached the Skyline Conference playoffs for the first time in program history with a 8-6 overall record and 4-3 in Skyline. The Privateers were led by first-year head coach Alyssa Guido and an impressive group of seniors, Catherine Pfundstein (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park), Ciara Murphy (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River), and Courtney Salatto (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip). Pfundstein set a new program record for goals in a season in 2019 and was named Second-Team All-Conference, while Guido picked up Coach of the Year honors.

Although Maritime lost some key players from last season, they still return plenty of talent from last year's roster. Krista Deleva (Sound Beach, NY/Miller Place) returns for her senior campaign after earning First-Team All-Skyline honors last year behind a team-high 89 points. Last year, Deleva set the program record for points in a game with 11, and she also sits atop the program record books in career goals, assists and points. Also returning for her senior campaign is goalkeeper and Second-Team All-Conference selection, Esmeralda Hernandez (Huntington, NY/Huntington). Hernandez started all 14 games for Maritime and set a new program record for save percentage in a season (.498) and goals against average (9.86). The 137 save season also moved the Huntington, NY native to the top of the record books for career saves. Sophomore Katherine Buser (Bablyon, NY/Babylon) is also returning from an all-conference campaign in 2019. During her freshman season she was a staple of the Privateers defensive effort by helping the team keep opponents below 10 goals per game on average.

"I think we have a lot to look forward to this year after the improvement and success we saw last year," said Guido. "Obviously we lost a few key players, but returners have really stepped up this pre-season and I think the newcomers are fitting in well. We still have a lot to prove and I'm looking forward to finally getting the team out on the field and competing."

The Privateers will open up the 2019 season at home against Union College on Thursday, February 26 at 5 p.m. Following the season opener, Maritime will face a six-game road stand that includes the Maritime Cup on March 6 and 7 at Massachusetts Maritime. After the road trip for the Privateers ends, they will return home March 28 to begin Skyline action against Mount Saint Vincent. Maritime will close out conference action at home against Purchase College on April 18 before heading to USMMA on April 25 for their final contest.

"I have high expectations for this year," said Deleva. "I think we're definitely going to upset a couple teams and hopefully we will end the season with a conference championship."

To watch the season preview video with interviews from Deleva and Hernandez, click below. To see the full 2020 schedule for the Privateers, click here.