ST. PAUL, Minn. – This weekend, Concordia-St. Paul women's lacrosse begins its sixth year as a program, opening the year in Colorado against a pair of strong in-region opponents, facing #9 Regis on Friday at 2 p.m. before taking on UC-Colorado Springs on Sunday at 2 p.m. (central).
Both games will be played in Colorado Springs, Colo., with Friday's matchup played at Colorado College and Sunday's matchup played at UCCS, after weather in the Denver area forced Friday's game to relocate.
ABOUT THE MATCHUPS
Concordia has previously faced Regis twice, falling 21-3 in CSP's inaugural season when the Rangers were #15 in the country, and a closer 14-12 loss in 2020 to sixth-ranked Regis played in Melbourne, Florida. Concordia is 1-0 against UCCS with a 17-2 win at the Concordia Dome in the 2020 season.
Friday's opponent, Regis, is the ninth-ranked team in the country by the IWLCA Top-25 and picked atop the Rocky Mountain (RMAC) in the league's preseason coaches' poll, two spots ahead of UCCS who is third in the league's rankings.
Last year, Regis reached the NCAA Tournament for a third-straight year after winning the RMAC regular season championship before capturing the RMAC Tournament title. The Rangers fell in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament to eventual national champion Lindenwood. It was the third time in a row that Regis fell in the NCAA Tournament to the eventual national champions.
Regis is led by two-time RMAC Attacker of the Year Kyleigh Peoples, a fifth-year senior who had 93 points (56g, 37a) in 2021, fourth-best in the nation. She is a Preseason All-American and the USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Attacker of the Year.
The Rangers bring back 10 seniors including three graduate students.
The UCCS Mountain Lions earned their third-place preseason prediction after finishing 2021 8-4 overall and 4-3 in the RMAC, securing the third seed in the RMAC Tournament. Like CSP, UCCS is in its sixth year as a program. They return 18 letterwinners from last season's team led by RMAC Preseason Players to Watch Natalie Church, Madison McGriff and Morgan Miller.
Church, a fifth-year senior, was an All-RMAC Second Team player last year and a two-time All-RMAC honorable mention performer. The 2018 RMAC Freshman of the Year had 26 draw controls, 14 caused turnovers, 22 goals and seven assists. McGriff was an RMAC All-Tournament Team selection at goalie and led the RMAC in save percentage (.514), averaging 10.33 saves per game with a 14.38 goals against average. Miller is a fifth-year defender for the Mountain Lions and an RMAC honorable mention pick with 15 ground balls.
"Regis, ranked ninth in the country, is definitely a squad that's been around and been consistently performing at a high level, they've been top-10 in the country year-after-year. They have veterans who will challenge our veterans and those should make for fun matchups. Sunday at UCCS, they're third in the RMAC and another top team so we get two tough games right away to help us learn, grow and figure out what we can continue to work on. We've practiced so much against ourselves, you can only play your teammates so much, it's nice to finally compete against someone else."
2022 SEASON PREVIEW
Concordia enters its sixth year of women's lacrosse under first year head coach Ali Jennings, who came to CSP from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls where she led the Falcons to a 23-9 record in three season including three-straight winning campaigns and a 9-3 finish in 2021 that included a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
She takes the helm of a Golden Bear program that has a 34-30 all-time record with three of five seasons at .500 or better and just two years removed from finishing a COVID-shortened season ranked 25th in the IWLCA Division II Top-25 after a 5-2 start to non-conference play.
The team enters the 2022 season with a full fall season and preseason practice under Jennings, who is flanked by first year graduate assistant Riley Heffron while former head coach Joe Nelson has remained with the program as an assistant coach.
"Going into fall ball, we're a new squad, we're younger and we don't have a ton of players with a lot of collegiate game experience, but they are growing that experience. Coming in, we have focused on setting the foundation and expectations in the fall, laying out what we look for as coaches and how we'll build throughout the year," said Coach Jennings.
The program returns nine players who all started at least three games last season and six who started at least eight of the team's 10 contests. They've all been infused by six incoming transfers and six first year freshmen.
"We have some transfers coming in who can make a big wave for us this spring and some freshmen who can make an impact right away," noted Jennings. "I'm excited to see the work we've all put in through the fall season and into practice this month to connect what we've developed in practice into games."
With Jennings becoming the program's fourth head coach, she's aided by the continuity of having Nelson on staff as he enters his third year with the program, serving as an assistant coach in 2020 before taking on the head role in 2021.
With development and preseason practice now in the rear view, Jennings is able to set her sights on the team's 2022 outlook. "The biggest focus for me as a coach is progress. We're looking for in-game progress and game-by-game progress. When setting the foundation, the most important thing is to make sure we are moving forward and in the right direction."
She continued, "Within a game, we'll look at things we're struggling with in a specific area, and by the next half or quarter, we'll aim to improve that part of our game. We'll focus on little things, and by making those improvements it will add up to big things in the end."
The Golden Bears will set out to achieve their fourth .500 or better season and aim to topple a nationally-ranked opponent in Jennings' first year.
2022 SCHEDULE OUTLOOK
They'll have ample opportunities to pick-off a ranked team, with eight opponents on the schedule ranked in the IWLCA Preseason Division II Top-25: #1 Lindenwood, #8 Rollins, #9 Regis, #14 Grand Valley State (twice), #18 Seton Hill and #25 Davenport (twice).
"If you want to be the best, you have to play the best," Jennings stated of the tough schedule. "With a younger team, win or lose we want to see these top teams and use the opportunity the right way, to learn and get better. The more we see top Division II teams, the more we know what it takes to get to that level."
The team is also looking forward to returning to a full schedule for the first time since 2019. "We're excited for a 'normal' season, having 17 games so we can push the girls and athletics back in the right direction – they want to play games, that's why they're here, what they're preparing so hard for in the offseason and in practice and getting them that full experience back is a win on its own."
She continued, "The seniors are the only ones who have had a 'normal' season, so many members of our team haven't been able to have a flight trip, so to start the season by flying to Colorado will really go a long way to helping us build team chemistry and allowing our bonding to take off."
STYLE OF PLAY
"Concordia lacrosse will be a class act, on and off the field. How we carry ourselves is important to me as a coach. Sportsmanship, integrity in how we play and as a coach I'll reinforce that with a positive approach centered around positive feedback, cheering them on and being constructive while expecting players to implement and give it their best. Playing at a high level, a fast-paced game is important while using a team-oriented approach. On offense, I want to see a team unit instead of one person taking it to the cage every time. We'll strive for more flow, creating and making sure they understand constant movement and creating for each other with different opportunities within each matchup." – head coach Ali Jennings
MEET THE GOLDEN BEARS: GOALIES
Concordia returns sophomore Maddy Huebner, who started eight of the team's 10 games last year as a freshman, along with Edinboro junior transfer Candace McDole who led NCAA Division II with 5.18 ground balls per game in 2019 in her last game action. She holds the Edinboro (NCAA DII) record for career ground balls (153) and saves per game average (13.18) while ranking second in career saves (435) and save percentage (.508).
Huebner had an impact debut for CSP, holding a .560 save percentage and allowing a 5.50 goals against average in helping the Golden Bears to a pair of sweeps in her first two career starts. She went on to produced double-digit saves five times on the year.
"We have two great goalies who are solid in the cage and capable of doing a great job," said Jennings. "They have fast hands and have built up their confidence in the cage. They are able to get interceptions, pickup ground balls and their confidence is a game-changer. They work and communicate well with the defense."
MEET THE GOLDEN BEARS: DEFENSE
"We might be young on defense, but we're pretty solid and have grown into their positions as defenders," said Jennings. "Meg & Paige (Meghan McGowan & Paige Nicklaus) are doing a great job down low around the crease and I'm excited to see them compete together."
The unit is anchored by senior Mary Keating, who has started 26 career games and played in 34. She's had an impact offensively in past years with 26 career goals and 13 assists, adding 46 ground balls, 33 draw controls and 24 caused turnovers.
She was tabbed as an All-GLIAC honorable mention performer last year by league coaches.
"Mary is one of the quickest defenders in the game, she understands the game and plays well in adjusting to in-game situations. She's our veteran back there and a huge help in leading the unit, guiding things in-game and will be their voice. She's the top defender on the squad and I'm looking forward to her senior year."
Fellow returners Emma Hanson and Lily Walesheck each started three games last year and played in six with Hanson in her third year with the team and Walesheck her second. "They have seen improvement in their 1-on-1 game, adding them into the mix on defense and bringing that depth is key. How they continue to grow with their experience will be exciting. Emma has great communication, and that is so key on defense, having another player to help make those calls."
A newcomer to watch on defense is Maddie Westberg. "Maddie is a newcomer who has grown from fall to spring, and is someone who will see a good amount of playing time, using her speed whether on offense, defense or in the mid. She is versatile and we can put her where we need to capitalize on her strengths."
MEET THE GOLDEN BEARS: MIDFIELDERS
"Quick, but also have a good lacrosse IQ, our midfielders understand where they need to be. We have two-way middies, which helps that they can play two sides really well. I'm excited to see them connect and work together," said Jennings.
The unit is led by returning All-GLIAC Second Team selection Sarah Pierson who ranked second in the league with 60 draw controls in conference play while her 66 total draw controls were second-most in a season in school history despite the shortened 10-game season. She holds the single-game record with 14 draw controls and is tied for second in career history with 106 as a Golden Bear. She was third on the team with 11 goals last season on the offensive end.
"Sarah Pierson does well to control the draw and is excellent there. We have a few fast girls who can get in there and get the draw for us, and be able to utilize different players for different draws – who has a quick stick or who is quick off the line to get ground balls."
The draw will also see fourth-year sophomore Molly Moynihan in the mix, and sophomore Hailey Hartlage is a returner who factors into the midfield rotation after playing all 10 games including nine starts as a freshman in 2021.
"Hailey has a quick stick, is a power shooter and having some shooters who can add power shots mixed in with finesse shooters gives us different looks. She is one of our fastest first steps off the draw."
MEET THE GOLDEN BEARS: ATTACK
"This is where we have more of our veterans and we hope to see some good connections from them and see a team aspect setting each other up for success. We're looking for big things from this group, we want to control the ball and the game."
Scoring leader Molly Moynihan returns after an All-GLIAC honorable mention season when she ranked sixth in league play with 10 assists and 10th with 24 points. Overall in 10 games, she led the team with 15 goals and 26 points while finishing second on the team with 11 assists.
"Molly has a great stick, great vision and great lax IQ. She's one of our top feeders as well. She really is very versatile on the attacking end for us."
She's joined on the attack by her older sister, CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team selection Katie Moynihan, a fifth-year senior. She enters her senior year fourth in program history with 46 career goals and 57 career points in 52 games. Last year, she was second on the team with 12 goals.
"Katie brings great energy and intensity to the team, she's never not giving us 110%. She has a great first step and quick stick, which is lethal when she's flash cutting for us. I'm really looking forward to some Moynihan sister connections this spring"
The Moynihans are joined by senior Erica Peterson who started 10 games last year and brings 35 career games and 17 starts to the table. She had four goals and a career-high seven assists last year, matching her individual season-high of 11 points and has 33 career points (17g, 16 a).
"Erica is someone who can see the feeds but can also work the crease for us too. Like Molly, she helps control the attack and helps set-up systems or if we need to slow things down can calm us down – she is a voice of reason out there, and having so many experienced players on the attack brings us a ton of lax IQ."
Newcomers to the mix include Jacksonville transfer Laurelle Weisbrod and freshman Maddy Seifert. "Laurelle, a transfer from Jacksonville is able to capitalize on both ends and plays well with the vets on the attacking unit. Maddy will be an impact player as a freshman. She is a sneaky lefty with a quick stick, a quick shot and places the ball well. Maddy did a great job during our fall play dates on the attack and she continues to get better and better"
