Sports Spotlight: Women’s Lacrosse

Reported by: Bryn Heikes                                                                                                                

Photographed by: Imogene Eagan                                                                                                          

After a strange first half of the season, the Bruins are fired up and ready to earn another conference win and a ticket to the NCAA tournament. “There is a different sense of drive and desire within the team dynamic,” said senior midfielder Bailey Faust. She continued, “Everyone on the team knows what it's like to get our sport taken away from us unexpectedly and so everyone is hungry to play and wants to be there. We honestly don't know if one of these days will be our last day on the field for the season so we play every day as if it might be.” 

First-year defender and midfielder Payton Bergren echoed this spirit of positivity. She said, “This year, mentally I am doing my best to look at everything from a positive aspect. We get to be out on the field, we get to play games, and we get to be together.” 

Photographed by Imogene Eagan

Initially, the cancellations and restrictions due to COVID-19 were discouraging. “Coping with the unexpected loss of our season was really difficult at first; it felt like we had a lot of unfinished business that we never got to address,” says Faust. “But I personally took that frustration and disappointment of not getting to play last season as motivation to push me to work harder, play harder, and be grateful for every opportunity to step onto the field.”

Bergen also is motivated to go all in. “My goal for this year is to play every game and practice like it's my last by leaving it all out there on the field. After not having a senior season in high school and seeing how the season was stripped away from others makes me want to work hard for everyone on the field.” 

For Head Coach Katie Mastropaolo, she hopes that this will be a season of growth. “My continued goal is for each individual player to continue to grow as both a player and a person. I want them to realize the potential that they have doesn’t just pertain to one area of their life, but to all aspects of life.”

Photographed by Imogene Eagan

Additionally, there have been positive aspects to this unique season. “One of the most positive things that have come out of this season is the sense of family and community that has become the culture on our team. Everyone shows up wanting to play hard for themselves and each other. That mentality and that level of energy just make for a good day every day that we're on the field,” says Faust. 

Mastropaolo added, “In moments of change and adversity we often see the true character of an individual and true culture of a group. I have been so proud of our team and the ways that they have grown over the past few months … In a season that is full of a lot of unknowns, they continue to show up every day and give it their all! I could not ask for anything more as a coach.” 

Looking forward, the Bruins will face the Linfield Wildcats during the season opener on Saturday, March 6th, at Linfield.

Photographed by Imogene Eagan