The NMU Women’s Lacrosse team doesn’t dominate attention like the Football and Hockey teams when it comes to Wildcat athletics, but the season is starting to roar up.
To be frank, not many people know how lacrosse is played, or even that the Wildcat Lacrosse squad is the only team of its type in the Upper Peninsula. Attending a practice can make anyone realize the error of their ways, watching in awe as the ‘Cats play hard, launching the rubber ball at ludicrous speeds.
The official rules of the sport seem to change yearly, and the difference between the 12-meter arc and the 8-meter fan is hazy to a newcomer, but that just adds a little bit of mystery to the game. The dedication, skill, and sportsmanship on display is a pleasant cherry on top of the biggest secret of NMU sports.
Due to its own unique style, lacrosse players must have the stamina of a soccer player, the stick work of a hockey player, all while wearing less protective gear than a football player.
Junior defenseman and captain Nicole Smith talked about the strength of her teammates and the excitement of taking new lessons, and gaining new energy from first year Head Coach Lindsey LeMay. For example, ‘Hockey but in the air’ is a term LeMay has brought with her from the Pacific Northwest, where she is from. Smith also spilled the beans on how to cradle the ball.
“It’s like a queen’s wave,” Smith said.
LeMay was estatic when talking about how much she has enjoyed working with the team. She explained that so far, her biggest obstacle was getting more students interested in the sport. Lacrosse has become notorious for having one of the highest drop-out rates among young players. Being a lacrosse player takes passion and firey dedication. These athletes practice six times per week.
A challenging display of physical prowess with an undercurrent of extreme competition makes a fun environment that is the climate-controlled Superior Dome. LeMay’s first chance to see what type of reaction her team will generate is at noon on Saturday, Feb. 15 when the Wildcats host the McKendree University Bearcats.
