Coming off a successful season last year, the Pacific’s lacrosse team is planning on maintaining their momentum and staying strong this season.
Last year the team had a 10-4 overall record and completely swept the other teams playing in the Northwest Conference.
That was only the fifth year the lacrosse team had been at Pacific.
Senior captain Mikaila Way, who is also the only four-year player on the team, said the Boxers are ready to accomplish the goals they have set for themselves.
“Each of our personal goals is to do our best all the time,” said Way. “As a team our goal is sweeping the Northwest Conference again.”
Way admitted that the team lost a strong group of players due to graduating seniors and although they created a high standard of play last year, this year’s team will rise to meet that standard.
“It’s hard to let 2011 go,” said Way. “Last year we had such a solid core of players that had been playing together for a while and we really learned how to be creative and effective together.”
According to Way, a new wave of talented freshmen along with the team’s attitude will help them meet the high standard that was set last year.
“Everyone shows every day. There is consistent dedication and motivation, it’s really impressive,” said Way.
That’s not to say that there won’t be challenges along the way.
Way said that she sees one of their biggest obstacles as staying strong as a unit.
“I have full confidence in the younger members of the team but the pace of the game is so different then what they’re used to, it’s a lot faster,” said Way. “We’ll have to learn as fast as that pace and focus on that the beginning of the season.”
To overcome those challenges, Way emphasized not getting frustrated after making mistakes and getting stronger. She said that’s what pre-season games will be for.
This season also holds something new for the lacrosse team. They will be traveling around the country the most they have ever done before to play teams from around the nation.
“This will be an exciting season,” said Way. “It’s a huge step to take for the program, normally we only take one destination trip during spring break.”
Way said the reason the lacrosse team will be traveling so much is because Head Coach Wynne Lobel has a vision for the team.
Part of that vision is getting recognition for Pacific Northwest lacrosse from other parts of the country.
In addition to the usual Washington and Oregon games, the Boxers will be traveling to Texas, Mississippi, Illinois and Wisconsin.
For Way, playing teams that Pacific has never gone up against will be a good opportunity for the women to challenge itself and play a different style of lacrosse.
“I would like to see that we embrace these challenges and play to our fullest potential without losing sight of having fun and enjoying the game,” said Way. “We can face those challenges with not only courage and tenacity but also an eagerness to play.”
The Boxer’s first game will be on Sunday, Feb. 19 starting at 8 a.m.
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