A Quick Look At: Carleton

Heard back from Carleton Head Coach Cassie Kosiba yesterday on my inquiry to her about her squad and this upcoming season and she seems to be feeling pretty good about her squad and what they'll be able to do this year:


"I was very pleased with the progress we made last year in both culture and performance.  We made some big changes in philosophy last season knowing it would take at least 2 years to really see the benefits of those changes.....We began to see some of those benefits last season, particularly in our motion offense, and are excited to continue building this season....For the first time in many years, we are a more veteran/experienced team which will hopefully lead to forward progress for this program.  We did not graduate anyone last season and are not in a position where we need new players to step in to fill big holes.  We have great leaders, versatility within our positions and eager new players...This is a great position to be in...The biggest challenge for us will always be the depth of the MIAC.  We have great teams in our conference which makes every game a toss up.  This is also a great benefit as we are challenged every game and, as a result, have an opportunity to grow as a team every game."   


A glance at the 2017-18 Carleton roster reveals why Kosiba and her staff SHOULD feel good about this upcoming season.  Great senior leadership with their primary weapon Anne Hamilton who comes back; presumably healthy from the get-go along with other seniors Sarah Paller, Sarah Waldfogel, Lindsey Chavez, Katherine Miles, and Anna Flitner.  You've got a pretty solid backcourt with sophomore Katie Chavez and Paller and a good front line combo of Hamilton, Waldfogel, junior Cece Leone and Miles.  The nice thing when I look at this roster is that Kosiba really does have that versatility she refers to.  Paller can come in and provide minutes at the point guard spot and fits in just as well at the off-guard position.  Sophomores Samantha Cooke and Malika Adda-Berkane can come in to give quality minutes and let the main chain gang of Hamilton/Waldfogel/Leone/Miles get the breathers when they need them.  Assuming the key components here can stay healthy, the Knights have a very good chance to compete for that coveted sixth spot in the MIAC Playoffs if not better.  Again, the big thing will be making sure those key players stay healthy.  They can ill-afford to lose Hamilton or Leone to an injury.  That's still a delicate balance that the Knights have to tread.  Last season, Carleton had a very good stretch of wins in the month of January; winning six out of seven games.  But things unraveled for them in the critical home stretch and that's where they Knights need to shore things up.

Carleton has an interesting early-season schedule.  They open things up on 11-15 at UW-River Falls out of the WIAC but then get UMAC opponent Northwestern at home in West Gymnasium a little less than a week later on 11-21.  The really interesting set of games comes right after Thanksgiving when they play Crown out of the UMAC on Friday (11-24) and then the next day host Calvin out of the MIAA in the College Town Classic in which crosstown rival St. Olaf will also be participating.  Then it's time for the Knights to dive into MIAC play as they at St. Kate's on Saturday (12-2) and then host SMU the following Wednesday on 12-6.  Roadies to both Macalester and Augsburg follow that.  Additionally, Carleton will be making a trip to the Chicago area in mid-December where they'll face two CCIW opponents - North Park on 12-16 and Elmhurst on 12-17.  It's important for the Knights to come out of this early portion of the schedule in good shape because once they dive back into MIAC play after the first of the year, their first two opponents are a home date with GAC and a roadie to UST.  Yikes.