GUILDERLAND — The Guilderland girls’ lacrosse team concluded its season by honoring the 2007 Section II Championship varsity team and the junior varsity team at the year-end banquet.

The varsity team finished with a 17-3 record. Each varsity member received a Section II 2007 championship plaque.

Meera Chappidi received the Sportsmanship Award as well as the game ball for her goal in overtime in the five-overtime victory over Shaker in April.

Jen Madsen was given the Coaches’ Award. Lauren Cagino was named the most improved player; Courtney Davis received the Captains’ Award; and Bridget Daley received the Top Defensive Player Award.

Chelsey Newman and Amanda Best received the Top Midfielder Award; Danielle Tetreault and Abbey Fashouer received the Top Offensive Player Award.

Nikki Branchini, Jen Kaye, Lynn Tran, and Julie Malkowski received the Most Valuable Player Award.

The varsity team was also recognized as the number-two girls’ lacrosse team in the state academically with a 97.2 grade-point average.

Branchini was selected as a 2007 US Lacrosse All-American. Malkowski, Tran, Kaye, Branchini, Cagino, and Fashouer were named 2007 US Lacrosse Academic All-Americans.

Branchini, Malkowski, Kaye, and Tran were selected as first-team Suburban Council All-Stars. Fashouer, Cagino, Best, and Tetreault were selected as second-team league all-stars. Daley, Newman, and Davis were chosen as honorable mention all-stars.

Fahouer and Cagino were selected as captains by the team for 2008.

The junior varsity team named Casey Gerety as the Most Valuable Player. Marissa Page was the Most Improved Player and Hannah Scott was given the Sportsmanship Award.
"It was quite a year," said Guilderland varsity Coach Gary Chatnik. "A year which we thought we could do it and did. The year began with four seniors who provided the leadership and set the tone for the underclassmen to develop. Once our team gained confidence, they began to show their talent and we went on the 12-game winning streak and won sectionals. It was great to be part of.
"Then the championship game at the University of Albany had such a great atmosphere with so many people," Chatnik added, "including our alumni who had put so much time in getting our program to this level. Alumni like Nicole Tetreault, Lauren Chatnik, Kathryn Marcantonio, Kayla Best, Molly Daley, Val Feldman, Kaitlyn Vennard, and Laura Driessen all were there, and they all are part of this season."

Just four seniors graduate — Branchini, Tran, Malkowski, and Kaye.
"Guilderland will always be grateful for what they accomplished and meant to us," Chatnik said. "They will have these memories forever and will know that they made the commitment and it paid off."

The Lady Dutch will have 16 players returning next spring. The entire offense returns intact.
"The girls know how to win and that should give us early confidence," Chatnik said. "They are all playing this summer and most have already played in at least a tournament to date. There are several girls on the junior-varsity team who will help out and we are looking forward to 2008. For a while, we are still going to enjoy the 2007 championship."