Ball, Brown, Castagnero Named 2019 Captains

University of Richmond women's lacrosse head coach Allison Kwolek has announced the three team captains for the 2019 season ahead of the team's season opener on Saturday.

Seniors Marissa Brown, Mia Castagnero and Julie Ball have been selected to lead the team in their final campaign, earning the honor after exhibiting outstanding leadership qualities through their three years with the program.

"Being named captain by your teammates and coaches is a huge honor," Kwolek said of the three honorees. "I am extremely excited for the different strengths these three bring as leaders, and for the year we have ahead of us."

All three captains have already made a lasting impact on the program, and only look to further that impact in 2019.

Brown enters this season just 12 assists shy of breaking the program career record of 104, set by Emily Doyle in 2012-15. After setting the program single-season record for assists (44) as a sophomore in 2017 and earning Second Team Atlantic 10 All-Conference honors, she had an outstanding junior campaign, finishing second on the team with 79 points and tying an A-10 Tournament record with nine points in the Spiders' semifinal win over Saint Joseph's. She returns this season looking to break the 200-point mark after totaling 182 in her first three seasons.

"Marissa has consistently grown as a player and as a leader in her three years as a Spider," Kwolek said of the attacker. "She has an innate ability to connect with each of her teammates and works hard to maintain those relationships off the field."

Despite battling through injuries over the last two seasons, Castagnero has managed to make her mark on the attack for the Spiders. After leading the team in scoring as a freshman to earn A-10 All-Rookie Team honors, she played in just five games as a sophomore before returning to the field in 2018 for 14 games. Castagnero pushed forward, scoring four goals in the Spiders' A-10 Championship win over UMass to earn All-Tournament Team accolades.

"Mia made an impressive freshman campaign before being hampered by injury over the next two years," Kwolek said of the senior. "Her ability to persevere through injury and setbacks has set a great example for her teammates in terms of attitude, outlook, and how to be impactful when you are not on the field."

Ball had a breakout season in 2018, becoming the first Spider to earn A-10 Defensive Player of the Year honors since Taylor Blazer in 2014. Along with earning First Team All-Conference accolades for her defensive play, she was named to the IWLCA Division I All-South Region Second Team and ranked fifth in the nation in caused turnovers per game while setting a new single-season program record for caused turnovers (50). After playing in 14 games as a freshman, Ball made her way into the starting lineup in 2017, starting all 40 of the Spiders' games over the last two seasons.

"Julie is the heart and energy of our team," Kwolek said. "She is the hardest worker on the field and everyone looks to her when we need a spark. We can always count on her to make sure the team is focused, energized, and has their eye on the prize day in and day out."

Brown, Castagnero and Ball will look to lead the Spiders in their first game of the 2019 season, as the team travels to face Campbell on Saturday, February 16. First draw in Buies Creek, N.C., is set for 12 p.m.

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Julie Ball

Marissa Brown

Mia Castagnero

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