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Show 14 ATHLETICS FORUMFORTNIGHTLY.COM The men's lacrosse team enters the season ranked A niche of their own third in the country. Jenteal Jackson Staff Reporter Westminster brought on mens and womens lacrosse as an actual sport, rather than club, to give itself a niche that most other schools dont have, said Shay Wyatt, director of athletics. The mens and womens lacrosse teams have both grown to become nationally recognized programs. The womens team ended last season with five players being recognized as WCLA (Womens Collegiate Lacrosse Association) The mens team ended their season losing in the quarterfinals of the MCLA (Mens Collegiate Lacrosse Association) ns. National Championships. The womens team will start their season at the Santa Bar7. bara Shootout on Feb. 15-1- with the D1 conference winner last year, so we should be okay moving up this season, said Kaicee Beal, a senior captain. As the season approaches, the goals are set high. The teams roster holds six seniors and a standout transfer. The team has started practice as they look to win a conference championship and make a wave on the national stage, according to the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League. This differs from most sports at Westminster that are affiliated with the National Assodation of Intercollegiate Athletics, and the Frontier Conference. They differ in affiliation because the NAIA doesnt actually sponsor lacrosse. As a result, the mens and womens lacrosse teams are members of the MCLA and WCLA on the Beal. national level. Lacrosse at Westminster is unique, because unlike most Were gonna be good, she said. The mens team will begin their season on Feb 15 against Cal State, Fullerton in Henderson, Nevada at the MCLA Vegas Full House Faceoff. They start the season ranked third in the country. The team also has the Mens Collegiate Lacrosse other collegiate programs, it isnt considered a club sport. Westminster is one of a few schools fund a lacrosse program. The decision to bring on lacrosse as an actual sport was made when president Bassis was here. He was familiar with it and knew it was a growing sport, said Shay Wyatt. The lacrosse teams appreciate support, especially as they take on some of the top teams in the nation and some big instate rivals. I never thought I would enjoy watching lacrosse, said fan Brandi Bork, but I now try to make it to every game. They and action-packe- d, are higH-intens- ity I love going! Faculty and students can support the Griffins as the womens team welcomes Colorado Mesa to the Dumke Field on March 2 at 11 a.m. The mens home open is set for March 16 as they also welcome Colorado Mesa. of Assodation player of the year on their team: senior Jake Arthur. riseveral The mens team will remain state games against vals, including the University of division two for one more season. At the division two level, Utah, Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University. they have won the conference Since the program began, the championship four times in team has been in division two their six years of existence and in their conference, the Rocky have made the championship Mountain Womens Lacrosse game every year. The griffins achieved the highest of accoLeague. The conference divisions are determined by skill. lades when they won the diviThis year the team has moved sion two national championship up to division one, where the in 2003. Both the mens and womens competition gets even tougher. We had a really dose game lacrosse teams are affiliated with They will have 16 regular season games, with six of those being at home. Their schedule includes pre-seas- on Pre-seas- on flayer of the year Jake Arthur on the attack against a University of Utah dfender. (, w V t - i |