The St. Lawrence University softball team will kick off its 2011 campaign against Ohio Wesleyan University on Saturday, March 12 in Ft. Myers, Florida for the team's annual spring trip.

The Saints elected seniors Rachel Duffany, Meg Goodemote and Melissa Rogers as captains for the upcoming season.

"I am very pleased to see our three seniors in this leadership role," said St. Lawrence Head Coach Fran Grembowicz. "I have a great deal of confidence in their ability as leaders and players to help guide this team to many successes."

"Melissa, Megan and I are honored to be chosen as team leaders for the 2011 season," said Duffany on behalf of the seniors. "We have a talented group of players and are anticipating a successful year."

Duffany, an All-Conference Honorable Mention selection in 2010, brings experience on the mound. Totaling 109.2 innings on the mound and striking out a career-high 60 batters, the Watertown, NY native led the conference in complete games pitched.

Goodemote, who returns to the Saints after a season hiatus, earned Honorable Mention status in 2009 as an outfielder. The Queensbury, NY native will be a consistent face on the mound and will also see time in the outfield.

Rogers returns experience and poise at the plate where she reached a new career-high in hits with 27 in her junior season. A three-year starter in the middle infield, the Clarence, NY native has been a consistent offensive contributor for the Saints.

The Scarlet and Brown return ten players, including four of its top eight hitters. Joining the senior captains as veterans are juniors Chelsea Hanno and Darcy Buckingham, and sophomores Liz McGinley, Maureen McCoy, Lauren Weisbarth, Chelsea Cavellier and Danielle Durocher.

Welcomed to the team are seven newcomers, all whom bring many talents in different areas. Savannah Crowley, Leslie Stratton, Rebecca Allen, Natasha Bell, Khalshia White, Caroline Kieltyka and Cailyn Welsh all join the roster for the 2011 season.

"Our field will have a new look as we graduated seven players last year, but with the addition of some key first-years, we have high expectations," said Coach Grembowicz. "We are encouraged that the first-years and sophomores will add a great deal of strength and quality in the field, and will be able to fill the holes that the graduated seniors left. We are looking forward to seeing them take the field in Florida."

With only a few returners settled into their starting positions, Coach Grembowicz will be trying out a variety of combinations and fine tuning the defensive line-up. Players who are expected to see time in the outfield are Hanno, Buckingham, Allen and Welsh, while Weisbarth, Durocher, Stratton and Bell will likely see time in both the infield and outfield. Kieltyka, McCoy and McGinley will also see time in the infield.

McGinley, who earned first team All-Conference honors as a designated player last season, will add a solid bat to the line-up and also join Duffany and Goodemote on the mound as a primary pitching option.

Cavellier, who started every contest as a rookie, will step into the catching role and serve as a leader on the field. Offensively, the Dexter, NY native finished with a .323 batting average and was tied for the most triples in the Liberty League. Cavellier, who earned honorable mention status last season, will be backed up by Crowley and White at the catcher position.

Before seeing tough regular season competition like Rochester, St. John Fisher and Union, the Saints will play 12 games in Florida, including Stevens Institute of Technology, Richard Stockton and Wisconsin-Oshkosh.