The women’s lacrosse team made history this past Saturday when they became the first CCIW women’s lacrosse champions. with their win against Carthage.
The team also received an NCAA bid the following Sunday night. Now in post season, the team will be playing in the NCAA Div. III tournament on May 10th. The team held an 18-1 overall record for their regular season.
Compared to the team’s success last season, they faced new goals, challenges, and highlights all together.
Anne Hopkins, a sophomore attacker, said that with this season in particular a goal was to adjust to the team’s new coach, Meredith Newman.
“Adjusting to our new coach was a main goal and to make it further than last year since we did make it to the Sweet 16,” said Hopkins. “Our coach last year was great and this year Newman is wonderful. It was not a challenge, but it was different.”
Kaylee Nolan, junior mid-fielder, said that there were some challenges that came along with a new coach.
“One of our challenges with getting a new coach was playing like the same team we were last year, even if some things were different like plays and such,” Nolan. “I think we did very well. We changed up our offense, and everyone has seemed to run the plays well and find their new positions within the new set.”
Along with a new coach, the team was also put into a different conference. The The team was in the MWL, but is now in the CCIW. There was a change because there were only five other teams in the previous conference, and the team would have not had the opportunity to play many teams.
Hopkins said the game against Carthage that gave the girls the CCIW championship title was a highlight for the season.
“It’s awesome, unbelievable, and we are lucky enough to hold the championship, and it’s a good feeling,” said Hopkins.
The team began to practice routinely in their fall pre-season with captain led practices, in order to prepare for the end of the season stretch.
“What made us get this far was how well we prepared for in these games,” said Hopkins. “In the fall we put so much time and effort into this. We grade ourselves as how good we do and acknowledge that it is not an individual sport.”
The team will play against Concordia Wisconsin on May 10 at Thorson-Lucken Field.