The 2014 season looks like a bright one for the Chico State women’s lacrosse team.
Many starters will return to show new members how it’s done as they take on the other teams competing in the Western Women’s Lacrosse League.
They finished last year with an 8-5 league record but fell one game short of reaching the championships. Although plenty of first-year students have joined the team for the upcoming season, the Wildcats will rely on the veterans and continue with what they know best.
“This is our third year in a row we have had our core starting roster playing together,” said Geneva Desin, a junior and attacker for the team. “Three girls on the team made the top 20 in scores and assists for us and our goalie was ranked high in the WWLL last season.”
This will allow the team to be more comfortable in their ability to play to their full potential.
The team will take on schools outside of the California Collegiate Athletic Association conference because lacrosse is a club sport at Chico State. Instead, they will be competing in the WWLL against schools like Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Rachael Crosby, a senior and defender for the Wildcats, expressed her hankering to get a crack at UC Berkeley.
“We lost to Cal in our last game last season and that caused us to miss the championships,” Crosby said. “Definitely looking forward to seeing them again.”
The Wildcats boast a strong offensive unit and the defense is a force to be reckoned with. The team will be returning with seasoned players and could become one of the best teams in the WWLL.
“We definitely need to get stronger in that area,” Desin said. “If we’re able to keep up with other teams then we will be able to compete at a higher level this season.”
Head coach Niki Collins will lead the Wildcats as she tries to get the team into the championship tournament it missed last season. However, this might be a stranger year than the past in terms of rules and how the game is played.
“They changed the rules for us and we are changing the way we start games,” Crosby said. “There will be a different amount of people the referees allow in the draw.”
The Wildcats, despite rule changes and rookie additions, will have the upper hand on the competition in the WWLL thanks to the continuity of the roster. The team will get on the road Feb. 14 to take on University of Southern California.
Lee Masten can be reached at [email protected] or @lee23masten on Twitter.
