By Jennell Retamar
The Women’s Lacrosse team is getting back to business as they start their 2017 season as defending champions.
As of recent the Mocs have been ranked first in the Sunshine State Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) and the US Lacrosse Magazine have also ranked them No. 1.
“It’s a new season and we’re a new team and hopefully we can go out there and put out our best foot forward since everyone is going to be gunning for us,” Coach Kara Reber said.
They kicked off their season with a scrimmage against the Scottish Senior National Team who ranked third in the European Championships in 2015 this past Monday.
“I think that we could go back to back with the National Championship and we have a very stacked team and so our potential is there we just have to connect and have that chemistry we had last year,” sophomore Adrianna Mannarelli, said.
According to Coach Reber the girls have been doing a lot of conditioning drills throughout the preseason and have been lifting three days a week with Coach Wallace, their Strength and Conditioning Coach.
“I think being ranked preseason number one is great, but it’s not really where we start, it’s where we finish and we want to make sure at the end of the season that we still are number one,” Coach Reber said. “It’s certainly nice for people to recognize us coming in preseason but that’s really our ultimate goal and there’s a lot of games to be played in between those two rankings.”
The team has also had individual training sessions to not only improve their skills on the field but to also increase their fitness and stamina.
“I think I’m really excited for this year and I’m really excited to have lead more of an input and really try to help our team progress to where I know that we can be so I would say based on my position, It’s going to be really crucial for me to come up with the draws and get possession of the ball because you have possession of the ball you win the game as long as you have the ball so I think that’s probably where I’ll have the biggest play in the season,” sophomore Samantha Keesey said.
