Women's lacrosse already preparing for season

After a first-round loss in the NCAA playoffs last season, the Norwich women's lacrosse team is pushing harder to make it further in this year's post season, according to one of the players.

"We know what it takes to win," said Margaret Ackerman, 19, a criminal justice major from Barre, Vt. "We just have to learn from last season and not make the same mistakes."

The team's 2010 season came to an end last year when the Cadets lost 19-3 against No. 5-ranked SUNY Cortland in the first round NCAA playoff game.

"We played our hearts out in that game but we just couldn't communicate," said Ackerman.

According to Ackerman, one of the reasons the women's lacrosse team did so well last year was because the team had lost numerous seniors, so the team had to step things up and perform.

The team went 7-1 in the conference, losing its only match against St. Josephs, 13-12 in quadruple overtime.

After losing key defensive players Ally Allen and Andrea Schmid after last season the team is unbalanced with talent. According to Ackerman, this is not going to be a problem.

"Last year we dealt with losing seniors, and still came out on top of the conference," she said.

Besides tougher workouts with the head strength and conditioning coach, Jeff Kruger, no major alterations have been made to the operations of the team.

"Our team lifts really are a challenge," Ackerman said. "It is hard work but to be competitive again this year, we need to be at our best."

The 2011 roster and schedule are not yet available on the Norwich Athletics website. The women's lacrosse season begins in February.