Wednesday, April 24, 2013

TAT: Hogs Fall Short of 3rd Straight Title


This article originally appeared in the April 24, 2013 issue of The Arkansas Traveler.

The Arkansas women’s lacrosse club team won their regular season league championship this year, but lost to Iowa State in the league tournament championship game 12-7 Saturday.
If the Razorbacks had won, it would have been their third consecutive Central Plains Women’s Lacrosse League championship, a feat that has never been accomplished.
Despite the loss, Arkansas still had a successful season, finishing 7-2 overall in the regular season and 7-1 in league play.
The president of the club, senior goalie Andie Schenk, did not play lacrosse until her freshman year of college when she joined the team at the suggestion of a friend. Schenk points to the 16-15 double overtime loss to Iowa State April 7 as a turning point for her play at goalie.
With 20 seconds remaining in regulation and the score tied, Iowa State had a penalty shot directly in front of the goal, but Schenk saved it. Of Iowa State’s 42 shots on goal, only 16 got by her.
“It was the craziest game I’ve ever played,” Schenk said. “I didn’t play goalie until my sophomore year, so I’m still developing as a goalie and that game was a pivotal moment for me.”
Schenk ended the season first in the league with a .526 save percentage.
A pair of sophomores from St. Louis also helped Arkansas to the regular season championship.
Offensively, sophomore Ellen Lampe led the way with 16 goals and 19 points, tied for second and third in the league, respectively. She also had an impressive .89 goals scored percentage.
“Pretty much every shot she takes, she scores,” Schenk said. “She’s been vital to our success.”
Sophomore Kelsey Foshage was one of the Razorbacks’ leading defensive players.
“She’s always right there. I know I can count on her for everything,” Schenk said.
The team occasionally plays games in the fall, but primarily they play in the spring, traveling and playing three or four weeks per season.
They compete against other teams in the CPWLL, which includes Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri State, Creighton and Iowa State.
The winner of the CPWLL league tournament advances on to play the winner of the North Central Women’s Lacrosse League tournament for a spot in the national tournament. This year, the national tournament is in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Joining the team for the first time costs $75 the first semester and $50 the second semester, while returning members must pay $50 each semester.
Even if you have never played lacrosse, Schenk said it is a great sport to start playing, especially for former high school athletes, as she was a softball player.
“We’re a really fun and laid-back team,” Schenk said. “We’re super competitive, but we have fun at practice.”

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