The Newberry College women's lacrosse program has turned a corner under head coach Tommy Kelly and the team looks to continue that positive momentum in 2025.

"Our goal for this year is always the same, win games, make a playoff run and compete for a conference championship, which will put us in the conversation for possibly a spot in the national tournament," said Kelly.  "Our expectations are to play hard as always, play with passion and emotion, and support the person next to you."

Last year marked the third consecutive that the Wolves posted a winning season (10-8, 7-3), won a SAC Postseason Tournament game and advanced to at least the SAC Postseason Tournament semifinals.

Over the last seasons, all under Kelly, Newberry has posted a combined overall record of 34-22 and  20-10 in the South Atlantic Conference.

Kelly is hoping the right team chemistry will lead to the team reaching its goals in 2025.

"Something I think that we need to improve on to reach our team goals is actually just the confidence and belief in self. I think that our team has the confidence in their teammates, in their coaches, in the program. I think they have the belief in our systems, our ideas, our concepts."

This year's team will feature a lot of new faces, but the team will be led by a corps of returning veteran players.

Leading the charge for the Wolves this year are a trio of senior second team preseason all-conference picks in attacker Serena Elias (Myrtle Beach), defender Morgan Parsons (Charlottesville, Va.) and goalkeeper Mackenzie Dorr (Riverhead, NY).

Elias was second on the team a year ago with 35 goals, third on the team in points with 40 and third on the team in ground balls with 24.  In her three seasons she has scored 65 goals and has accumulated 73 points.

Parsons was third on the team in ground balls with 27, scored four goals, added an assist and only had 14 turnovers.

Dorr registered 52 saves, posted a 3-3 record and had a 10.39 goals-against average.

Other key returning players include senior attacker Trysten Burns (Akwesasne, NY), who was tied for third last year with 20 goals, finished fourth on the team in assists with 13, fifth in points with 33 and sixth in ground balls with 20.  She also gained invaluable experience in the fall when she played for the Haudenosaunee Confederacy at the inaugural 2024 Women's World Lacrosse Box Championships.

The Wolves midfield features some key returning players.

Junior Emma Jobs (Sherwood Park, Alberta) is back after scoring 17 goals last season and 57 in her two years at Newberry.  She has also accumulated 70 points, 36 ground balls and 62 draw controls.

Another junior midfielder Lana Howell (Aurora, Colo.) will play a key role after scoring 12 goals and dishing out nine assists last season.  Senior Mackenzie Watson (Orlando, Fla.) and sophomore Scythe Shephard (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) also return.  Shephard played in 13 games as a freshman, contributing six goals while Watson played in 13 games, started two and also scored six goals.

The Wolves feature a veteran defensive presence with senior Adriana Hart (Franklin County, Va.) who started 14 games a year ago and sophomore Julia Zayachkowsky (Indian Trail) who played in 15 games as a freshman, starting three.

"We lost seventy-five percent of our offense from last year, so I'm excited to see what new people step up and who steps into those new roles," said Kelly.  "I'm excited to send the senior class out into the real world as a group of winners. This class will accumulate more team wins than any other class that has come before them, so that's very exciting. And I'm excited to just get after it and see what this team can do."

The Wolves open the season Saturday at home against Emory & Henry at 1:00 p.m. at Setzler Field.