Brian Tedder/Collegian

In the wake of losing more than seven key players, the Massachusetts women’s lacrosse team will get its first shot at adjusting Tuesday when it opens the 2009 season at Holy Cross.

The Crusaders, in contrast, are returning 23 letter-winners and seven starters.

Returning midfielder Meghan Reddy, who scored the opening goal in last year’s 9-5 win over the Crusaders, leads a Minutewomen’s roster that features 15 new recruits.

According to UMass coach Alexis Venechanos, however, the meshing of new team chemistry has been underway throughout the preseason.

‘We’re hoping that [the upperclassmen’s] experience could have a domino effect on our younger players,’ she said. ‘Right now, we’ve been working on our chemistry, because that’s the biggest thing when you have a freshman class coming in.’

The rookies have some large gaps to fill. Absent from the roster is former standout Kaytlin McCormick, who averaged scoring nearly 2 goals (1.94) per game last season and scored twice in last year’s Holy Cross opener.

Likewise, veteran goalie Krissy Anderson won’t be returning to McGuirk Alumni Stadium. However, Venechanos and company are already referring to Anderson‘s freshman replacement Katy Florence as ‘Flo,’ and gushing about the King Philip High alumnus’s preseason performances.

‘[Florence] has been playing great. [She] had a great fall ball,’ Venechanos noted. ‘She’s definitely a leader and the girls love playing for her. She’s a vocal leader and that’s all we can ask for right now.’

Bolstered by an aggressive first-half attack, UMass beat the Crusaders by four goals at McGuirk last year. This year’s contest, slated as an away game in Worcester, again marks the season-opener for both teams. It matches a Holy Cross squad picked to finish fifth in the Patriot League against a promising UMass team that looks to make a return to the Atlantic 10 Championship game. For Venechanos, the goals don’t end there.

‘Every year I’ve been here we’ve been able to progress in the A-10 tournament and as of right now that’s our way of getting to the NCAA tournament’ Venechanos said.

To do that, the Minutewomen will need sophomore Jackie Lyons to step up and lead a young defense backed by a goalkeeper making her collegiate debut. Lyons, an A-10 All-Rookie, was cited by Venechanos as being a potential impact player for 2009.

A native of Rocky Point, N.Y., Lyons even added a bit of an offensive punch last season, finishing with nine goals, four assists and 13 forced turnovers.

Holy Cross returnees, on the other hand, are hungry for different reasons. Finishing with a 5-11 record last year after winning the Patriot League Championship in both 2006 and 2007, the Crusader seniors have just as much to prove.

Newly-minted Holy Cross tri-captain Mary Kate Finnegan, a junior, makes her competitive return after posting a career-best 22 ground ball win total throughout last season. Look for Finnegan and Lyons, who scored twice for the Minutewomen in last year’s season-opener, to lead their respective teams defensively.

‘We’re excited for [Lyons] to take that step coming out of her freshman year,’ Venechanos said. ‘I think she’s ready to take charge of this team.’

Holly J. Galvin can be reached at [email protected].