Blog #1: A New Beginning

BLOG NUMBER 1: A NEW BEGINNING

Bud Wilkinson, head coach for the University of Oklahoma Sooners between 1947 and 1963, was once quoted saying that “every game is an opportunity to measure yourself against your own potential.” For a first year program, potential isn’t just in games…it’s everywhere. And although competition does not start officially until March, we have already logged countless passes, catches and sprints in preparation for what lies ahead. We have definitely come a long way since our first practice back in September!

Only one word can describe the first week back: eventful. After moving back in, I was eager to see all of my teammates. I missed them so much over the five-week vacation! In a team meeting on Jan. 25, the first day of the spring semester, all of us greeted each other with huge smiles and tales of adventure from winter break. “Thirty-seven days, ladies, is all you have to prepare for the start of the season,” Coach told us. Now knowing what we had to do in the next months, excitement buzzed through the room.

Practice in the first week mirrored those at the height of fall ball. We worked on building upon the fundamentals of lacrosse: stick skills and communication. Outside of practice, we continued meshing as a team. With practice bright and early (6:30 a.m.), those of us who did not have class could have been found in the cafeteria grabbing a bite to eat afterwards. Later in the week, we even went out to dinner in celebration of Kerry’s birthday. Like any good friends, we convinced the waiters to sing her a rendition of happy birthday!

With every practice, each and every girl begins to find what this season means to them. So, as a part of the blog each week, I will try to feature one of the women’s lacrosse players and what this season means particularly to her. For me, the definition of this inaugural season comprises of four little words: once in a lifetime.

And so it begins…welcome to the inaugural season for Mercy College Women’s Lacrosse! Stay tuned, as I will attempt to let all our fans know what it is like to be part of history...knowing that each goal scored, each draw won, each blocked shot makes history.