Women's lacrosse club team off to strong start

RELEASED: March 15, 2007

DANVILLE, KY—Thanks to the enterprising efforts of a handful of dedicated players and a Centre College economics professor, women's lacrosse continues to be successful in its second year as a club sport at the College. Currently the team is two games into its four-game season, defeating Sewanee and tying with Western Kentucky University's club team.

The team has made significant progress over the past two years, recruiting a growing number of women with experience and interest in the sport. Although completely student-led, the women have the help of their faculty advisor, economics professor David Anderson, and athletic director Brian Chafin. With Anderson's and Chafin's assistance, the team hopes to one day develop the club into a varsity sport.

Captain Allie Page, a sophomore from Louisville, Ky. says she started playing lacrosse during her sophomore year of high school, when a number of other Louisville high schools started teams.

"When I got to Centre, I realized that I couldn't go a year without playing," Page says. "A couple of girls I played against in high school, who also came to Centre, got together one day and we decided to pursue a club team."

The interested women were required to go through several steps to insure that a lacrosse team would become a reality, a process they were willing and excited to complete.

"After Dr. Anderson showed an interest in sponsoring the team, we met with Coach Chafin and President Roush to present a team interest," Page says. "Since it would be a club sport, we were also required to submit a proposal to Student Life. With everyone's support and approval we've been able to join the WDIA [Women's Division Intercollegiate Associates], pay for referees and purchase equipment."

From players with years of experience, to a few just starting out, each woman contributes to the team. The players do just about everything—organize practices, set up games with other teams and order equipment.

"While the team has captains, each woman provides leadership for the team, both on the field and off," Page says. "And even though the team realizes that it might not become a varsity sport while we're students here, we're excited about what we're doing and the prospect of what it will become in the future."

- end -

Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

For news archives go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/newsarchive.html.