The St. Joe’s women’s lacrosse season is underway, and the players are hungry for a title once again.
Entering the 2022 season, team chemistry is going to be a key factor in bringing the Hawks back to where they were last year when they made it to the Atlantic 10 (A-10) championship game but fell short against the University of Massachusetts in a 18-7 loss. The team has 10 first-year players to welcome, as well as a few transfers that are joining the team this year.
According to team captain and senior attack Lauren Figura, the team needs to
form that crucial bond in order to get back to where they want to be.
“Finding our flow, working together and finding out what everyone’s strengths
are. Then putting that all together to create real chemistry within the team,” Figura said.
Head Coach Alex Kahoe said the returning players have stepped up in sharing their experiences and perspectives with the new players, which is adding to the culture they’ve built in the program.
“We have 10 freshmen that have come in, and then we’ve brought in six transfers, which is pretty unique,” Kahoe said. “I’m so proud of the team and how connected they are and our team chemistry.”
Graduate student and midfielder Taylor Newman-Farr plans to lead the first-year players and transfers both on and off the field one last time. Her goal is to make sure everyone is passionate about the game while she teaches the newest teammates what she has learned over the years.
“We love each other and we have fun doing it,” Newman-Farr said. “I am also just trying my best to be the greatest leader on the field as I can be.”
Newman-Farr said she is excited to be able to have the opportunity to return to the team for one more year.
“My goal is just to play my best and come out of my last five years of lacrosse with no regrets at all,” Newman-Farr said.
St. Joe’s ranked second in the A-10 preseason poll, which has added more fuel to the fire for the team’s aspirations of winning the A-10 championship.
“At this point, we’re hungry, and being number two isn’t good enough. We want to be number one, and we’re hungry for that A-10 championship,” Kahoe said.
“The team is coming together, working really hard and having each other’s back and ready to compete.”
The next game for the Hawks is Feb. 16 against Lehigh University at Sweeney Field.
