The University of Idaho women’s lacrosse club is in its fourth season of existence and is hoping to continue to gain players and support.
The transition to becoming a club has been a slow one for lacrosse, but Amanda Smith, president of the women’s lacrosse club, said the club has made a large step in the right direction.
“For the last four or so years we have technically had a club, but last year was the first year we fully completed a season with NWWLL (Northwest Women’s Lacrosse League),” Smith said.
The lacrosse club had another first this season — taking part in fall matches. The club had always practiced in the fall, but had not found it practical to compete before the spring season began. The team competed in three matches and a tournament in Boise.
Sophomore KT Kolson, vice president, said the club has made a lot of progress but she is excited to see them advance even more.
“We have come so far and we are continuing to go even further, which is really exciting,” Kolson said.
All clubs subsidize their funding through donations, and Smith said the lacrosse club plans to sell t-shirts and ask for other donations to help purchase gear, equipment and assist members of the team who need helping paying club dues.
Smith said the club consisted of 17 players in the fall, the majority of which are sophomores and juniors. In a game that requires teams to have 12 members on the field, losing a player to study abroad this semester has Smith hoping to attract more members to the women’s lacrosse club.
“It would be ideal to have 20-plus girls, that way practices are full and during games we have subs and leeway for when girls can’t make it,” Smith said.
As a member of the NWWLL, the UI women’s lacrosse club is a part of a 16-team league divided into east and west sub-divisions. UI is in the east category with teams from Boise State, Gonzaga and Washington State. The west consists of competition from Oregon State, Lewis-Clark State and the University of Oregon.
The women’s lacrosse club opens the spring season at the Boise Classic March 2 where it will play four matches against the University of Montana, Boise State, Oregon and the University of Portland.
In April the club will log another first, Smith said — hosting a match at home at 4:00 p.m. April 14 on the SprintTurf.
Smith said the club has nine league games planned for this semester and hopes to find few more games on the side.
The intention of the club is to improve, and sophomore Brittiany Graham feels like that is just what her team has done.
“From our first game last year to our last game this fall semester I’m proud of how well our team has improved and what we’ve accomplished,” Graham said.