SPARTANBURG, S.C. –The 2022 Wofford women's lacrosse season has arrived in Spartanburg, as the Terriers prepare for their fifth season in action in hosting the visiting Akron Zips (1-0, 0-0 MAC) for a 4 p.m. matchup at Gibbs Stadium on Friday, Feb. 18.
 
The meeting marks the first between the two programs, as the Zips enter Friday's contest 1-0 on the season after defeating St. Bonaventure 6-5 on Sunday, Feb. 13.
 
Wofford returns a plethora of talent from last season's 2021 squad, returning 20 letter winners in addition to seven newcomers for the 2022 campaign.
 
Seniors Elisabeth Ralph and Ally Furnari pioneer Wofford's offensive attack as its two leading returners. Ralph set single-season program records in 2021 for points (39) and goals (36), including a school and Southern Conference record nine-goal performance against Presbyterian, en route to becoming Wofford's all-time goals and points leader while garnering the program's inaugural First Team All-Southern Conference honor, in addition to all-tournament team recognition.
 
Furnari, a two-time Second Team All-SoCon and All-Freshman honoree, finished second on the team in points (29) with 23 goals and six assists, highlighted by matching Ralph's record performance with nine points (eight goals, one ast) at Delaware State. The Lutherville, Md. native led the squad with an 88.6 percent shot-on-goal percentage on 44 shots, while also being named to the SoCon all-tournament team in 2021.
 
Junior midfielder Emma Gentile adds to the mix as a Second Team All-SoCon and All-Freshman team selection last year after tallying 14 points on 11 goals and three assists, followed by juniors Olivia Abé (9 Gs, 13 Asts), Leah Hurley (9 Gs, 6 Asts) and senior attack Shannon Wulff (8 Gs, 6 Asts).
 
Emma Krasinski, Moira Carroll and seniors Emma Seif and Abbi Pagano return to help anchor Wofford's defensive efforts, while junior goalie Aislinn Washburn returns with experience inside the crease for the Terriers.
 
The Terriers welcome the additions of Ella Smithers, Kirsten Flannigan, Mia MacLean, Katie Sullivan, Carley Irvin, Mia McCarthy and Avery Dew to the program.
 
After concluding its final season in the Southern Conference with a 2-9 overall record and 1-3 league mark, including a SoCon semifinals appearance, Wofford turns a new leaf in preparing for its inaugural season competing in the Big South as an associate member for the 2022 season and beyond.
 
The Terriers gear up for seven nonconference tilts, including four at Gibbs Stadium, prior to opening Big South competition on Saturday, April 2, versus Furman in Spartanburg.