Feb. 8, 2008
Notre Dame, Ind. – Notre Dame women’s lacrosse coach Tracy Coyne has announced the 2008 women’s lacrosse captains for the upcoming spring season that opens at home on Feb. 15 and 17 with games versus Canisius and Duquesne at the Loftus Sports Center.
Seniors Caitlin McKinney (Lafayette Hill, Pa.) and Becky Ranck (Radnor, Pa.) were selected by their teammates to serve as team captains for the coming year. For both players, this will be their first seasons as captains for the Irish.
In making the announcement, Coyne said, “I have every confidence that Caitlin and Becky will do an excellent job as captains of the 2008 team. They will be a great tandem because of the mutual respect and admiration (they have) demonstrated for one another. Both players have a great rapport with the coaching staff. We are excited about working together with the captains and the team to accomplish the goals we have set for the 2008 season.”
McKinney begins her fourth season as the catalyst for the Notre Dame offensive attack. A two-time All-American, the speedy midfielder was second on the Irish in scoring last season with 44 goals and 21 assists for 65 points, setting career highs in goals and points. In three seasons at Notre Dame, McKinney is fourth all-time in goals (114), fifth in assists (55) and fourth in points (169). She enters the 2008 campaign with a 39-game point-scoring streak (94g, 44a) that started during her freshman year. A unanimous preseason all-BIG EAST selection going into this season, McKinney capped her junior year by being a unanimous first team all-BIG EAST selection, a first team IWLCA all-West/Midwest region pick and a second team IWLCA All-American. Off the field, McKinney was one of four Notre Dame players named to the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll and earlier this week she was selected as Notre Dame’s female BIG EAST/Aeropostale Scholar-Athlete Award winner.
“Caitlin (McKinney) is admired by her teammates for her athletic ability and respected for her leadership skills. She is a conscientious, hard working and compassionate teammate. She possesses all the qualities and characteristics the athletic department and the University expects in a leader,” said Coyne.
Ranck is a three-time monogram winner and the defensive leader of the Irish. An all-BIG EAST candidate as a senior, Ranck is a talented and athletic player who has made a career of stopping the opposition’s best players. One of the best in the BIG EAST at forcing turnovers, Ranck has been among the team’s leaders in causing turnovers in each of her last two seasons as a member of the regular defensive corps. She has played in 47 career games, making 31 starts and owns 46 ground balls, 29 draw controls and 54 caused turnovers in her career.
“Becky (Ranck) has quietly established herself as one of the team’s leaders,” says Coyne.
“What makes Becky such an effective leader is her calm, steady demeanor and steely determination. She has earned the respect of her teammates because she is reliable and trustworthy.”
McKinney, Ranck and their Irish teammates will start the 2008 season when they face Canisius at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15 at 5:00 p.m. at the Loftus Center. Sunday’s game (Feb. 17) against Duquesne starts at 12:00 noon.