The promise, since they were freshmen, had been “there’s going to be women’s lacrosse in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.”
Now in their senior year, it’s a reality for a few Fort Lewis College Skyhawks.
The RMAC is sponsoring women’s lacrosse for the first time in its history in 2014.
“It’s awesome to see that in their senior year,” FLC head coach Kelsey MacDonald said. “It’s nice to be a true conference member and have something to look forward to in the end in the RMAC tournament.”
The Skyhawks, whose first year of lacrosse was 2009, competed in the Western Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association before this year.
FLC (2-0, 1-0 RMAC) won the first RMAC women’s lacrosse game ever 19-9 over Adams State on Saturday. That followed a 14-7 victory over Colorado Mesa on Feb. 22, which didn’t count as an RMAC game even though both teams are conference members based on when it was scheduled.
The Skyhawks’ offense fired on all cylinders in both games, which is a product of both the experience and talent on FLC’s roster.
Ally Kvidera, Jessica Norby and Brooke Wineland all made the preseason All-RMAC team.
Kvidera scored six goals in the opening game against Colorado Mesa, while Ellie Carpenter scored four against Adams State.
Norby is FLC’s all-time leader in points (151) and assists (62), while Kvidera leads the Skyhawks in career goals (100).
RMAC coaches picked FLC to finish third in the conference preseason poll behind first-place Lindenwood and Regis.
“It’s pretty accurate considering what we’ve done in the past three years. We’ve been right behind Regis and a little bit ahead of Mesa and Adams,” MacDonald said. “I know that our team looks at that and wants to beat the Regises and the Lindenwoods. It gives us something to strive for.”
There are six seniors and three juniors on the Skyhawks’ roster that have contributed to a 21-22 record over the last three years.
“The biggest strength we have is we have nine leaders,” MacDonald said. “They have stepped it up tremendously this year. There’s so much talent in the senior and junior classes, which is awesome.”
They’ll be able to put that talent on display for their home fans sooner than expected. FLC was supposed to play Shorter University on Wednesday in Alamosa. The game was moved to 3 p.m. Wednesday at Ray Dennison Memorial Field.
This season gives FLC an opportunity to break its three-year cycle of at or near .500 records.
“It’s going to take the girls wanting to prove to people that we are a team that is better than .500 and can have a winning record,” MacDonald said.
kgrabowski@durangoherald.com
