For a sport only in its eighth year at this school, the women’s lacrosse team continues to be a key player for Pacific University athletics.
Right out of four straight winning seasons, the Boxers came into this year as the top team in the northwest.
There’s a momentum that doesn’t seem to be stopping and the team has set their sights on keeping it that way.
“That has been our goal, and that is what motivates us,” said Head Coach Wynne Lobel.
Over the past week and a half, the team played their first four games to mixed results.
The Boxers won their first game of the season when they played Alma University at Lincoln Park Stadium Feb. 28, defeating them 13-10.
The next two games, both away, proved to be tougher.
A loss of 10-13 to Puget Sound Feb. 28 was followed by another loss to Pomona-Pitzer March 1, this time 3-16.
The team recovered two days later, when their March 3 game at George Fox resulted in an 11-9 victory.
Despite the losses, Lobel remained excited about her team’s prospects.
“We have talent,” Lobel said. “We have a team cohesion.”
The team is led by three captains, senior Kacey Killingbeck and juniors Amy Mayhugh and Melanie Niehus.
Lobel heaped enormous praise on them.
She also extended her gratitude to the rest of her athletes.
“We are 17 great players all on one team,” she said.
In the next few weeks, the Boxers will mainly stay at home, but that doesn’t mean games will get easier.
Pacific faces off against Colorado College, a top contender in Division III, March 8. They will play Kenyon College, an Ohio school that went to the NCAA championship last year, March 11.
“There’s no cupcakes on this schedule,” said Lobel.
Nonetheless, she is confident of the team’s abilities headed into the rest of the season, and even added that the uncertainty is part of what makes the game so exciting.
“You never know what’s going to happen in the game of lacrosse,” Lobel opined. “It’s momentum.”
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