Basketball isn’t the only thing that will keep Winthrop sports fans glued to their seats and cheering; there is also another sport that gives fans a rush of thrill with frenetic action and quick plays.
According to Winthrop Athletics, Winthrop Women’s Lacrosse released their spring 2020 season schedule to let their players and athletes know when the home games are. The schedule states that the Lacrosse Team will play seventeen regular season games, ten of them at Eagle Field, and open up the season with three non–conference games.
Junior midfielder Lauren Morris noted that the lacrosse team’s players are deep in training to improve their teamwork skills.
“With the regular season still being so far away, training has not changed much at all since the schedule release. Fall is all about getting comfortable playing with one another and being able to improve our skills as a team,” Morris said.
Junior exercise science major Olivia Deaver commented on how the team will be playing conference matches this semester to prepare for the upcoming spring.
“I am excited to play some teams in our conference during the fall to get a feel for them. The spring season is full of new non-conference games which we are so excited about. And we cannot wait to go on a winning streak straight into conference play,” Deaver said.
One of the biggest changes to the lacrosse team this upcoming season is the addition of the new freshmen players to the team.
“Having freshmen make up almost half of our roster is a challenge along with a potential huge benefit. Overall, just learning to get together with all the new faces that have joined the team this year,” Morris said.
Instead of being seen as a disadvantage, the team is looking to train both the new recruits and themselves to new rules and strategies for the upcoming season.
“Every season is challenging, but this year we have a lot of new faces, and I am excited to see how they will embrace the new rules of college lacrosse.” Deaver said.
Much like their previous season, three of the matches this season such as California and Fresno State are not in the Big South Conference.
“Playing non-conference teams allows us to be ready for conference play. Non-conference games are all about working out the kinks within our team so we are as prepared as possible to crush it in conference,” Morris said.
Despite this, the lacrosse team will be focusing to improve themselves before the Big South with matches in Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina and a spring break match in Florida.
“We will have some hard competition to compete against this season, but I am excited to see what our team can accomplish,” Morris said.
The upcoming season will not only give new members of the team goals to aspire to, but veteran players to improve themselves from the previous season.
“My goal for the team this season is to have as many healthy bodies as possible. Due to injuries in the past we have been limited with girls that are able to play. Having enough healthy bodies to have subs will be a huge benefit to our game,” Morris said.
Overall, the lacrosse team is ready to work hard in the fall and strive to win the Big South Tournament in April to show the Eagle spirit on the field.
“I am excited to crush it this season with the new squad. I think that this year will be a very successful season and I am excited to see how our team handles the tough competition scheduled,” Morris said.
Photo: Kevin Seabrook/ The Johnsonian
