The University of Indianapolis women’s lacrosse team opened up Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play against McKendree University on Saturday, March 5. The Hounds fell 16-8 to the Bearcats.
Prior to the McKendree, Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach Jillian Howley knew competition between the two teams would be good.
“I think they [McKendree] are actually very similar to [the University of] Alabama-Huntsville, but they are more skilled, they are faster, and they are more experienced,” Howley said. “So, I think it is going to be a tough one for us, and it is just [whether] … we rise to the occasion.”
Scoring was opened up by the Greyhounds in the first two minutes of play. Junior attack Chalane Morrison found the back of the net at 28:07. Five minutes later Morrison assisted freshman midfield Erica Bushold for her third goal of the season.
Six more goals were scored before the end of the first half, five of which were the Bearcats. McKendree led 6-3 at the half.
After the break the Bearcats scored two additional goals before the Greyhounds could answer back. Freshman attack Hana Priddy scored one of three goals for the game at 25:12 in the second half.
Also scoring for the Hounds was freshmen attacks/midfields Sydney Hauffman and Hannah Burczyk.
Freshman goalkeeper Irene Carlquist has been in net for the Hounds all season and made 42 saves.
The Hounds’ second win of the season was against Alabama-Huntsville on Feb. 27. UIndy pulled out a 14-10 win after allowing two Charger goals.
“This past Saturday against Alabama-Huntsville, we had to give it everything we had, basically, and really just execute our game plan going into it,” Howley said. “We went down [in the score], then we went up, then we went down again, so we had to keep fighting back.”
Hannah Burczyk had the game-high five goals on eight shots. Morrison had four goals in the win. Sophomore attack Anna Rulapaugh was happy with the results of the team’s hard work.
“I think the fact that we stepped up after being down by two in the beginning, and being down by two at half, [is good.] We really stepped up against a team who was out to beat us,” Rulapaugh said. “They were on a 4-0 run. So I think that the fact we were able to pull it [a win] out is great, because it shows we can overcome a deficit.”
As the Hounds’ season progresses, the team morale is high, said Morrison.
“[We are] definitely getting to know each other better through our games. [That] is making us a lot closer…. In practices, you don’t get to know someone that well,” Morrison said. “Being on the road a lot, I think we are definitely more supportive of each other now. And I think that helps [our spirit] stay high.”
Howley feels that UIndy is supporting the team very well in. Prior to facing off against McKendree, Howley expressed her hopes for a large student body turnout at the game.
“I mean, I am curious to see how many people come out this Saturday to the double header with the men’s team, so it would be awesome to get an awesome crowd there,” she said. “With a double header, a lot of our players’ parents are coming and stuff, so it would be really cool to get a lot of the student body to be there.”
UIndy travels to Florida on March 16 to compete against the Florida Institute of Technology.
