Club Corner: Women’s lacrosse

By Ashley Acosta
Cardinal Staff


For the Saint Mary’s University women’s lacrosse team, success is not always measured in wins and losses.

“For those who don’t want to play a sport at the Division III level, lacrosse gives them a chance to compete and have fun,” junior Liz Kempisty said.

Started just two years ago, the lacrosse team is a member of the North Central Women’s Lacrosse League, and this is the first year with scheduled games. The roster is made up of 28 players comprised of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and one senior.

Varying in different athletic backgrounds and skill levels, the lacrosse team finds its roster filled with many SMU hockey and soccer players. “These sports are somewhat similar to lacrosse,“ said sophomore and captain Libby Perkins.

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Kempisty identifies progression and experience as two major components for this season.

“The main thing that we are hoping for is progression,” Kempisty said. “We have a lot of girls coming into this season who haven’t played and we are looking to develop as individuals as well as a team.”

In order to achieve that progression, the lacrosse team meets for practice three times a week for two hours in the RAC or on the outdoor facility. Practices focus on a variety of different areas such as conditioning, stick handling, shooting and working on offensive and defensive skills.

Those practice skills were put to the test against Hamline March 19 in the first game of the season. Despite strong contributions from many athletes, the end result was a 12-5 loss.

“We are not worried about how many wins or losses we get,” said Perkins. “This year is more of a learning experience. It is a test of the skills we have been learning in practice, which will enable us to grow and strive for an even better season next year.”

The inexperience of the team is not the only area lacrosse players are hoping to improve on this season. The lacrosse team hopes to improve on its little-known status amongst the students. “A lot of people don’t even know we are a club,” Perkins said.

In efforts to change that, the lacrosse team is planning to sell t-shirts in order to spread the word around campus and bring in extra funding.

The team members have taken it upon themselves to do their own fundraising by writing letters to family and friends for donations to help pay for new uniforms, equipment and fees.

Although the lacrosse team recognizes the necessary areas of improvements, they also recognize their strengths. Perkins feels the team’s strong work ethic, enthusiasm and the camaraderie are a few of the team’s positives.

There are two additional games in the works against Minnesota State University and Winona State University, both tentatively set for the latter part of April. The first and only home game is scheduled for April 25 against the University of Wisconsin -
La Crosse.

“We are really hoping for a good turnout from the students,” said Perkins. “It will give them a chance to experience a lacrosse game, and we would really appreciate the support.”

Look forward to next issue’s (April 24) Club Corner featuring the men’s lacrosse team.