The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point is set to kick off its inaugural season of women's lacrosse next month with New City resident Kristen Bell, one of three New Yorkers on the roster. Bell, a senior, will play as an attacker on the team.
“The Academy has a great tradition of excellent athletics and I look forward to adding another successful program to that tradition,” said USMMA Director of Athletics Sue Petersen Lubow in a press release.
The Mariners will compete as an independent team in 2013 before taking on a full Landmark Conference schedule in 2014.
In October, Lubow named Kyle Simensky as head coach of women’s lacrosse at USMMA.
"We feel he is an outstanding coach and will be successful leading our women into their first season,” said Lubow.
Simensky spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the USMMA's men's lacrosse team in 2009-10 and was part of the 2009 squad that captured a Landmark Conference Championship. Most recently, he has served as an assistant coach and physical education teacher in the Locust Valley school district.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to start the women’s lacrosse program here at Kings Point,” said Simensky. “The Academy has a great tradition of excellent athletics and I look forward to adding another successful program to that tradition.”
As a player at Cortland State, Simensky made three consecutive appearances in the national championship game from 2006-2008 and won a Division III National Championship in 2006. He was named a SUNYAC All-Conference performer in his senior season.
In recent months, Simensky has worked to round out the 2013 roster which includes players from across the nation, including three from New York.
Seniors Kristen Bell, Lauren Callahan from Mineola and Nancy Barriga from Queens all made the inaugural roster for the Mariners.
Three of the team's 11 games this season are scheduled to be played at Kings Point.
USMMA 2013 Schedule:
Date Opponent Time Feb. 23 at Wesley 4 p.m. March 12 Mt. St. Vincent 5 p.m. March 14 at Maritime (NY) 7 p.m. March 16 at Muhlenberg 1 p.m. March 19 at Old Westbury 4 p.m. March 23 St. Elizabeth 1 p.m. April 13 at FDU-Florham 1 p.m. April 15 Farmingdale State 7 p.m. April 17 at Drew 4 p.m. April 21 at Mt. St. Vincent 5 p.m. April 27 at St. Joseph (CT) 1 p.m.