Manhattan University Athletics

RIVERDALE, N.Y. — Jenna Dinger and her team are ready for the start of the 2024 season. Dingler and the Jaspers will be entering the season with Andrea Liotta, a member of the 2024 All-MAAC Preseason Team.

"With experienced leaders at the forefront of this team, we are excited to put our talent and grit to the test when we open up at Rutgers this season. There is a passion among this team that is palpable and will take us to new heights. Every single member of our team contributes something vital to our success on the field. We look forward to bringing it together and advancing as a whole this year," said head coach Dingler.

At the attack, the Jaspers welcome a total of eight starters. Sophomore captain Ava Fernandes will make her return this weekend after 16 appearances a year ago. In 2023, Fernandes put up a total of 12 goals and 10 assists, giving her 22 points. She also picked up 16 ground balls with a season-high of four goals against Merrimack. Teammate Reagan Mullins will return to Gaelic this season, an MAAC All-Academic Team member. She started in 16 and played in all 17 games. Mullins put up a whopping 23 goals and 12 assists her senior year with a four-goal game season-high against Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart.

On the defensive end, the graduate-level star defender Liotta is back for another season. Last year, Liotta was unanimously selected to the All-MAAC First Team. She started all 16 games and tallied 74 draw controls, 23 ground balls, and caused 21 turnovers. She had a season-best eight draw controls against Sacred Heart and scored in back-to-back games at the beginning of the season against Mercer and Kennesaw State.

In the middle, the Jaspers have two returning stars, Ashley Bonitch and Julianna Iovine. Bonitch appeared in 16 games and scored six times. Iovine was an All-MAAC Second Team selection in 2023. She started all 17 games and scored a mind-boggling 27 times while also dishing out 15 assists to her teammates for a combined 42 points for the 2023 season. Iovine also collected 41 draw controls and scored in 16 out of 17 of her games.

Dingler and her staff are pleased to welcome 11 new players to the team.

Season Opener:
The Jaspers will open their 2024 season at Rutgers University on Feb. 10. The last time the Jaspers went up against Rutgers was in 2017. The two teams have a 15-5 record favoring the New Jersey school.The game will take place on  at 1 p.m. in Piscataway, N.J.

For the latest on the Manhattan College women's lacrosse program, follow the Jaspers on Instagram @manhattanwlacrosse_ and Twitter @ManhattanWLax.