FREDONIA, N.Y. — The 2011 Fredonia State women's lacrosse team didn't end up where it would have liked to, yet it still had the most successful season in school history.

Head Coach Chris Case had preseason expectations of the SUNYAC playoffs as an explosive offense returned for the 2011 campaign. The team finished just one win shy of making the four-team tournament.

Nonetheless, the Blue Devils finished the season with a 12-5 record. The 12 wins are a new school record, set in the last game of the season against Oswego. They also set numerous other team and individual records.

Among them:

While the Blue Devils barely missed out on the playoffs, Case believed that the SUNYAC was the toughest it has ever been. All four playoff teams -- Cortland, Buffalo State, Brockport, and Geneseo – received points in the national polls throughout the season.

Three of Fredonia State's four conference losses came by five goals total. Most critical was a loss to Geneseo, in which the Blue Knights rallied from a 7-0 deficit. Against Brockport, the Blue Devils rallied from an 11-8 deficit with minutes to play, sent the game to overtime, before the Golden Eagles prevailed, 14-13.

As for their non-conference schedule, the Blue Devils dominated. They were winners of the Morris Division of the 2011 Spring Fling tournament in West Palm Beach, Fla., winning three games by a combined 26 goals.

During the tournament, the Blue Devils avenged a 2010 loss to St. Lawrence. Coach Case believed the game was a turning point for his team. After trailing 7-0, the Blue Devils rallied for a 13-12 win. Case felt the victory gave his team a boost of confidence; the Blue Devils proceeded to win their next four games.

A key moment in the season was an injury to freshman midfielder Taylor Wingerden during a loss to Buffalo State. “Her injury changed everything in terms of transition,” Case said. “Her quickness was missed.” Wingerden finished with 10 goals, including three against Oneonta State.  She also collected 27 ground balls in 12 games, well enough for third on the team.

In addition to Simon, the Blue Devils put out a balanced attack, with six players above 35 points. Morgan McNamara moved up on the all-time goals list to fifth place with 98 goals. Marissa Cussins, who Case credited with having great abilities during a successful freshman campaign, scored 40 goals, third most ever by a Blue Devil freshman. “Marissa will continue,” Case said, “to adapt to the college game from the high school game.”

Karli Brinthaupt, a junior, scored a career-high 33 goals. Rachael Reinis, who missed most of the 2010 season with an injury, played well in the midfield. Case said it helped having Reinis back for an entire year; she finished with 26 goals and 10 assists.

Defensively, junior Megan Mietelski again anchored the backfield. Case matched Mietelski against every opponents' best attacker, and she played well. The two-time captain moved up to seventh all-time in caused turnovers (67) and third all-time in draw controls (100).

Casey Chiesa, the sophomore net minder, improved her numbers from her freshman season. She set a record for wins by a goalkeeper, and her 8.93 GAA was fourth best all-time as a Blue Devil and ranked 27^th nationally (tied for third in the SUNYAC). “She was put in some tough situations,” Case said. “There were games where she faced 35-plus shots, but she has been progressing every year.”