They sprint around an area of the field, looking for any way they can help the team win.
Leaving everything out on the field, they go almost entirely unnoticed.
They’re driven by the desire to win and a commitment to the team.
Sound like the life of an offensive lineman?
Try a West Coast women’s lacrosse player.
The sport of lacrosse is a monster on the East Coast, but for athletes on the West Coast, like those on the Oregon women’s club lacrosse team, their efforts have gone mostly unnoticed.
“I didn’t realize that it’s not a big sport out here at all,” said senior Tina Thompson, who grew up playing lacrosse in Washington, D.C. “People (on the West Coast) are like, ‘What’s lacrosse?’”
With Monday’s announcement that Oregon will feature women’s lacrosse as a varsity sport for the 2004-05 season, it appears lacrosse out west is heading toward a growth in popularity.
“(Lacrosse) is a wonderful sport,” student club coordinator Louisa Dorsch said. “It will elevate the school in general just to have the program.”
This year, the women’s club team returns half of its players from a team that finished tied for sixth in the Northwest Women’s Club Lacrosse League.
The Ducks feature a mixture of youth and experience. Dorsch and Thompson, two of the Ducks’ most experienced players, lead the team into battle.
Dorsch is in her third season with the Ducks. A goalkeeper from Hagerstown, Md., Dorsch said the Ducks have shown potential for the upcoming season.
“We have some terrific players,” Dorsch said. “The team is very dedicated and a great group of girls.”
Thompson is the only Duck in her fourth season. She said the biggest ally the Ducks have for potential success is that they’ve had the same coordinator for two years. In her first two seasons, the team switched coordinators, essentially having to start from scratch each season. With half of the roster returning, they can continue to build on what is already established.
“We have a little foundation going,” Thompson said.
A talented group of underclassmen will contribute to the Ducks as well. Freshmen Leslie Furumasu and Liz Carskadon are young and will have the opportunity to try out for the varsity program when it arrives. The duo is light on experience, though, as each is from Oregon and didn’t start playing until their junior year in high school.
Furumasu, who several players called the Ducks’ most talented freshman, is a defensive wing in her third year of playing lacrosse. She said the idea of playing on the varsity team is intriguing, but it would be hard to leave her teammates behind.
“I’ve thought about trying out,” Furumasu said, “But I’m not sure if I’d want to leave the club team once we start playing together.”
Carskadon is in her third year of playing lacrosse. She said trying out for the varsity team crossed her mind, but would likely cause a scheduling conflict.
“I like the relaxed atmosphere of the club,” Carskadon said. “(Practicing) two days a week fits into my schedule. It’s too bad we can’t all go straight onto (varsity).”
The Ducks recently became affiliated with the Women’s Division Intercollegiate Associates, making them eligible for the national tournament held at the end of the season. Making the tournament would be a daunting task as only the top seed from the NWCLL is invited. This year’s WDIA tournament will be held in May in St. Louis.
With the year’s first tournament in March fast approaching, the Ducks are excited and hopeful for the growth in popularity of their sport.
“I’m really excited,” said Carskadon. “It’s a big step for lacrosse on the West Coast.”