Fun. Spontaneous. Youthful. Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach Jillian Howley used these three words to describe the first women’s lacrosse team at the University of Indianapolis.
“I have always been a huge advocate for hard work,” Howley said. “I think that is something you can control, and there is no substitute for hard work. Right now, as a young program, it’s just about getting better every day. In the future, it will be more about climbing to the top of Division II. But right now, we take it day-by-day.”
The predominantly freshman team took on three new players at the start of the semester. Junior midfield Erika Mackenzie, junior attack Chalane Morrison and sophomore attack Anna Rulapaugh joined UIndy from Pfeiffer University in North Carolina.
“Having those girls’ college experience, not only on the field but off the field, has helped us a ton with the transition,” Howley said.
The young team just came off of a 17-3 win against Urbana University on Saturday, Feb. 20. The victory was the first win by a lacrosse team at Key Stadium in UIndy history, and the ball from the first goal in UIndy history now sits on Howley’s desk, covered in signatures from the the team. As soon as the locker room is complete, Howley will put the ball on display. The team also competed against Lindenwood University on Saturday, Feb. 13, in St. Charles, Mo. When the two teams competed, Lindenwood was ranked No. 3 in the country. Lindenwood swept UIndy 15-0.
While taking on Urbana, Rulapaugh had the first of 17 goals three minutes into play. She later had her second goal of the game, and three assists. Morrison had three goals and four assists, and Mackenzie had four goals and one assist. Adding two goals apiece were freshman attack/midfield Sydney Hauffman, attack Hana Priddy and midfield Erica Bushold. Freshmen Laura and Kate McKee both had their first goals as Greyhounds in the win.
The Greyhounds lost to Lindenwood 15-0. Freshman goalie Irene Carlquist made seven saves in the goal.
“Exciting, but at times overwhelming” is how Howley described being the first women’s lacrosse coach at UIndy.
For the Greyhounds’ third game of the season, the team will travel to Alabama to compete against the University of Alabama-Huntsville on Feb. 27. The game is set to begin at 11 a.m.
