LORETTO, Pa. (Feb. 15, 2011) – With 2011 season fast approaching, the Saint Francis University women's lacrosse team has selected Catherine Helming (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua), Kate Simmons (Delran, N.J./Delran) and Danielle Pokusa (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson) its captains, head coach Steph Marcon announced on Tuesday.

“I am very confident in Catherine, Danielle and Kate's abilities to lead our team both on and off the field,” said Marcon. “They each bring something different to the table and together they are exactly what we need to help lead our team to another successful season.”

A mainstay in the midfield, Helming will retain her 'captain' title for a third consecutive season. The junior started all 17 games a season ago while picking up 21 goals and five assists, including a game-winning goal against Niagara. In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Helming was also a Northeast Conference Academic Honor Roll selection a season ago.

Pokusa enters her senior campaign as one of the most accomplished goalkeepers in the NEC on and off the field. She led the NCAA Division I ranks picking up 3.81 groundballs per game in 2010 while compiling a 6-9 record in goal. With a GPA of 4.0, she was not only named to the Northeast Conference Academic Honor Roll but also was one of 151 student-athletes in the nation to be named to the prestigious IWLCA Academic Honor Roll.

Simmons, a junior midfielder and center, was the top scorer on last year's 6-11 team racking up 41 goals and 17 assists. Her 3.41 points per game ranked sixth in the Northeast Conference last season while her point totals of 58 gave her a new school record. Her 110 career points are also a Saint Francis all-time best.

The Red Flash open their season on Feb. 19 when they travel to Duquesne for a noon match.