2011 Season Re-Cap

It is a saying we hear all too often, but if the 2010-2011 season is any testament, time really does fly. A mere four and a half months ago the W&L women's lacrosse team had their first season meeting as one whole group, picking up equipment, going over team rules and schedules, and preparing for the start of what they hoped to be a long and rewarding road ahead.
While at times it felt like the road was never ending, on certain frosty Saturday nights at eight o'clock on the turf or bus rides to the outer reaches of Tennessee, they stayed the course and found that there was, in fact, light at the end of the tunnel. This team never quit. The powering through, hard work and dedication paid off, as they hoisted the ODAC trophy the first weekend in May. For many, a certain dirty dozen in particular, the feeling was awesome in its newness. For the veterans, it solidified what they had known since January as they checked off a conference championship on the way to the NCAA Tournament.

Speculation hung in the air surrounding the Generals' return to the dance, but they themselves never doubted that they would come out of the first round game against CNU victorious. After that it was off to the shore to take on the reigning National Champions, the Gulls of Salisbury University. Despite an outcome short of the Generals' favor, the game proved to be exemplary of the kind of team W&L had shown itself to be all season; a team with heart and one that never gave up. There are immeasurable things that go beyond the wins and losses column on a record book, and what the Generals proved on May 14th will be something they will all remember.

Congratulations to a truly awesome group of young women on an outstanding season. A special congratulations to our seniors, Kathy Brown, Kate Donnelly, Katharine Farrar, Emmy Mathews, Wilton Megargel and Kate Speare. Your leadership and talent will be missed but your impact will always remain.

Post-Season Honors:

All-ODAC 1st Team: Christina Benedetti (Jr. D), Emmy Mathews (Sr. M), Wilton Megargel (Sr. A.)
All-ODAC 2nd Team: Katharine Farrar (Sr. GK), Leanne Stone (Fy. D)
All-ODAC Honorable Mention: Kathy Brown (Sr. D)

ODAC Rookie of the Year: Alex Van Horn (Fy. A)
ODAC Player of the Year: Emmy Mathews
ODAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Emmy Mathews
ODAC Coach of the Year: Brooke Diamond

Pres Brown Outstanding Senior Female Athlete Award: Emmy Mathews
Wink Glasgow Spirit and Sportsmanship Award: Kate Donnelly (Sr. M)

CoSIDA Academic All District: Emmy Mathews

IWLCA All-Chesapeake Region 1st Team: Emmy Mathews, Wilton Megargel
IWLCA All-Chesapeake Region 2nd Team: Christina Benedetti

IWLCA All-American 2nd Team: Emmy Mathews
IWLCA All-American 3rd Team: Wilton Megargel

IWLCA DIII Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Emmy Mathews

IWLCA DIII Community Awareness Athlete of the Year: Kate Donnelly

NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship Winner: Kate Donnelly

FOJ Day 2011

Friends of Jaclyn Day was a great success this year, despite the change of seasons in Lexington over a two hour span. We battled through wind, rain, hail and enjoyed a little sun on the way to a 19-10 victory over Virginia Wesleyan. Maggie and her family were troopers throughout and gave us great support from the sidelines.

For those who are new to the W&L Women's Lacrosse team and our blog, The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation is a non-profit organization that works with children with pediatric brain tumors and their families to place them with a high school or college athletic team. Maggie became a part of our team in 2008. She is our number one fan and a big part of what keeps us going when we're tired, stressed, frustrated or just a little laxed out. She and her family have been an inspiration to our program and one that we are very thankful for. Throughout the day, our dedicated parent support staff sold t-shirts and raffle tickets in support of FOJ. We raised over $650, thanks to very generous donations and a great crowd involvement in our efforts.

Meet the First-Years! Katie Hagen

This week we're introducing First-Year attacker Katie Hagen (Malvern, PA/Notre Dame Academy).

1.What’s your most favorite thing about being a W&L student?

Katie: I love the small campus and not having to walk far to get to my classes. I also like hanging in dhall with all my pals.

2.What’s been the biggest adjustment from being an out-of-season athlete to being an in-season athlete?

Katie: Time management is probably the biggest adjustment. I'm such a procrastinator so being in season makes me do my work earlier and on time, which I guess is a good thing.

3.What do you miss most about home?

Katie: I really miss my dogs, Jake and Cody. I have two stuffed animals here in their place but it's not the same. I miss my mom's food too.

4.What’s the best part about being a Generals Lax player? Besides the back of the bus.

Katie: Everything's great about it! I love the team - everyone is so fun and funny. I have 25 new besties and I love hanging out with them especially at our lax "get togethers". I'm obsessed with everyone on the team so when the season is over I'll probably go into a slight depression.

5.What class have you enjoyed most so far at W&L?

Katie: I really like my Econ class this term. I'm also looking forward to my spring term class, Women in Sport.

6.What do you do outside of class, practice and tweeting?

Katie: Well tweeting is pretty time consuming, but I enjoy hanging out with my friends and taking selfies (self-portraits) and sending them to various members of the team.

7. Who do you most admire?

Katie: I most admire my dad. I've always looked up to him. I also really admire Bethenny Frankel but my dad is more important.

8.What’s your favorite book?

Katie: Firefly Lane by Krisitin Hannah it's great.

9.What’s your favorite type of music?

Katie: Ya know, any upbeat jams that I can dance to. I have pretty good music so anything on my itunes. I also have recently gotten into country, which surprisingly I really like.

10. Anything else you’d like Generals fans, parents and players to know?

Katie: Go Gennies!!!!!