They were sunburned and smiling when the Oregon Club Sports women’s lacrosse team returned to Eugene from the Pacific Northwest Lacrosse Association Tournament at Delta Park in Portland April 29.
Despite the team’s three loses, two freshmen brought back their own victories.
Defensive wing Terra Cloyes and attack wing Karen Stoker made the cut for the Division IV team that will compete at the national tournament sectionals on Memorial Day weekend in Longmeadow, Mass. The tournament is the highest level of competition for West Coast teams. Recruiting coaches from West Coast schools will also be observing the players.
The two-hour scrimmaging tryout process “was an intimidating experience because the women were skilled athletes,” Cloyes said.
Cloyes said playing with competent athletes in the selection process had its advantages.
“You could count on someone to be where you expected them to be,” she said.
Stoker, a Massachusetts native, added that one of the reasons she tried out was the chance to fly home. She also said that although the nerve-racking tryouts are over, she and Cloyes now have the task of keeping in peak condition for nationals.
Overall, the Oregon women’s lacrosse team had a rough season. Its only win was the first home game of the season against Pacific Lutheran University.
The student-facilitated, two-hour practices three times a week with games every weekend from March through May kept the athletes in good spirits despite seven defeats.
Cloyes said the 18 players, mostly beginners, have grasped the concept of ball handling and complete passing. She said lacrosse, closely related to ice hockey, requires communication and a spread outfield.
“Basically, we tried to make sure everyone was comfortable with the game,” Cloyes said.
“We came together this year and started to compete more effectively with other teams,” said Katie Breene, a junior who plays offense. “I was proud of how far the team came. The beginners did an awesome job of bringing the level [of play] up quickly.”
Breene, a member of the first lacrosse team in the state of Oregon at Lakeridge High School in Lake Oswego, explained the history behind the sport.
“It differs in every way from men’s lacrosse,” she said.
She said men’s lacrosse focuses on physical contact, with players strapped in helmets, padding, gloves and face guards.
Protected with nothing but a mouth guard, women are only allowed stick contact. There is an “invisible bubble” around the player’s head, roughly an eight-inch sphere, which cannot be invaded. The three-foot long sticks with flat nets were once identified by French explorers as resembling a bishop’s crozier — la crosse in French — giving the sport its name.
Despite the numerous regulations, the team has had a huge home crowd, including the support of the men’s team. The women have raised money for their away trips with a bake sale, a McArthur Court cleanup and T-shirt sales.
“We have built a base for next year,” Cloyes said. “We have a good program, but next year we will be even better.”

Baseball
Is this really happening?
Oregon coach Rich Fay couldn’t believe how his team, having secured its first winning season in six years by sweeping Humboldt State only a week ago, failed to go the full seven innings against Western Washington and Humboldt State.
The Oregon Club Sports baseball team’s (6-5) season and its quest to reach nationals ended Sunday.
“I guess experience counts when it comes to the playoffs,” said Fay in reference to having only two returners on the field. “We were playing well together, the pitchers were great and we were crushing the ball [last week]. I don’t know what went wrong.”
After dropping their game against Western Washington in front of about 200 fans at Civic Stadium Saturday, the Ducks lost 12-0 against Humboldt State Sunday — the same team that ended their season last year.
“I haven’t been embarrassed like this for a very long time,” Fay said. “This is the best crowd I have seen in four years, but we lose in 45 minutes.”
According to Fay, the blame should not be directed toward the pitchers but toward the defense that failed in both games. He said the pitchers lost confidence in the defense and began to try striking out every batter.
“If they don’t get the calls, then there are going to be some walks,” Fay said. “When there are runners on the bases they become more frustrated and then they are going to make some mistakes and the runners end up scoring. It was the same story as yesterday.”
The Ducks barely avoided a no-hitter when Anthony Rethwill beat the shortstop’s throw to first base in the bottom of the fifth inning.
“I didn’t think that it could possibly get worse than yesterday, but I guess I was wrong,” Fay said. “Getting only two hits in two games is ridiculous.”
Although the season is over, the Ducks did take solace in the fact that their players are young and still improving.
Zach Ross (pitcher, outfielder), Keyonosh Maljai (catcher), and Rethwill (shortstop) received recognition as first team all-league selections. Regan Schaller (pitcher) and Kerry Jenkins (second baseman) were selected as second team all-league for the season.
“I don’t know what will happen next season,” Fay said. “I’m still in shock right now. It just seems to be a bad dream.”