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2024/25 LACROSSE general off-season news thread

AztecBuff

Club Member
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I always like to set up these threads for all the sports to account for any off-season and fall (for this sport) scrimmage and training period news.

1st, just a quick look back with some summary numbers from this past season:
Record - 13-6 overall; 5-2 in Pac 12 play, and they made it to the Conference Championship game after wins over UC- Davis (by a 13-10 score) and USC (12-9) before losing 8-11 to Stanford..
RPI - Per https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/lacrosse-women/d1/ncaa-womens-lacrosse-rpi, The Buffs were rated #24 in the final (dated 5/26) release (After #2 Boston College upset #1 Northwestern in the NCAA championship game), with 127 (up from 126 last season) D1 teams fielding a team. (CU was #46 in the last ranking of the 2023 season.)

The team's ending national rankings -

 
Going to be interesting to see Florida in the Big 12 for WLAX. Maybe UCF will get going on starting up their own WLAX team soon.

Going to be curious to see what other B12 teams will start up WLAX soon.
 
Going to be interesting to see Florida in the Big 12 for WLAX. Maybe UCF will get going on starting up their own WLAX team soon.

Going to be curious to see what other B12 teams will start up WLAX soon.
rumor is Utah is starting one. I really think the when the big 12 expands it will be with ACC teams like Pitt, Louisville, Va Tech who all have lacrosse teams.
 
rumor is Utah is starting one. I really think the when the big 12 expands it will be with ACC teams like Pitt, Louisville, Va Tech who all have lacrosse teams.

Utah makes sense and the ACC schools do make sense. We will know by next February (ESPN opting into the rest of the ACC media rights deal that would run through 2036) if that is a likely outcome down the road or not.
 
Utah makes sense and the ACC schools do make sense. We will know by next February (ESPN opting into the rest of the ACC media rights deal that would run through 2036) if that is a likely outcome down the road or not.
if Clemson and Fl St leave like all indications point to, I can see Va Tech, Louisville and others bailing because of the money. Who knows. I would like to see other schools add it as well in the big 12.
 
Congrats to the team and all the individuals who earned academic honors!



Direct link to article - https://cubuffs.com/news/2024/7/24/colorado-lacrosse-earns-iwlca-academic-honor-squad-award

"
By: Malala Pyle, Assistant Director of Athletic Communication

BOULDER –
The Colorado lacrosse team earned Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Academic Honor Squad laurels on Wednesday, July 24. As one of 325 teams chosen across all three NCAA Divisions and the NAIA, this becomes the seventh time that the Buffs have earned Academic Honor Squad status.

Five Buffs were also among 1,163 student-athletes from 113 different institutions honored on the 2024 IWLCA Division I Academic Honor Roll. Among those Buffs are graduate student attacker Eve Hritzuk (Sherwood Park, Alberta/Vimy Ridge Academy), junior attacker Samantha Lipka (Derwood, Md./Academy of the Holy Cross), senior attacker Morgan Pence (Great Falls, Va./Georgetown Visitation Preparatory), senior attacker Madeline Pisani (Clarendon, Ill./Hinsdale Central HS) and senior midfielder Sydney Zimmerman (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS).

The individual award requires student-athletes to be at least a junior, senior or graduate student and have earned a cumulative academic GPA of 3.50 or greater. A women's lacrosse team must have posted a 3.2 or higher team GPA for the 2023-24 academic year to qualify as an Academic Honor Squad.

Colorado was previously chosen as an IWLCA Academic Honor Squad in 2014, '16, '17, '18, '19, '22 and '23. Hritzuk is on the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll for the third time (2022, 2023), while Pence, Pisani and Zimmerman appeared on the honor roll for the second time (2023) in their careers. Lipka makes her debut with this year's academic honor roll selection.

In 2024, the Buffs (13-6, 5-2 Pac-12) came in second in the Pac-12 conference after falling to Stanford, 11-8, in the Pac-12 Championship match. Colorado ended the season ranked 20th in the USA Lacrosse poll and 22nd in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) poll. Senior attacked Madeline Pisani and sophomore defender Jess Peluso were both earned USA Lacrosse Magazine All-America Honorable Mentions at the end of the 2024 season, and four Buffs were chosen for the All-Pac-12 Team. The Buffs are coached by 11th-year head coach Ann Elliott Whidden 122-67 (.646), who was named IWLCA West/Midwest Region Coach of the Year (2017 and '18), was the 2018 Pac-12 Coach of the Year and 2017 MPSF Coach of the Year.

For more information on the Colorado women's lacrosse team, a complete schedule and results, please visit CUBuffs.com. Fans of the Buffs can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @CUBuffsWLax.
"
 
The team has announced that former Buff player Sam McGee is coming back to be an Assistant Coach, the 1st former CU player that Coach Elliott Whidden has hired to assume a coaching role.

Congrats and welcome back to her!



Direct link to article - https://cubuffs.com/news/2024/7/26/mcgee-hired-as-assistant-lacrosse-coach

"
By: Malala Pyle, Assistant Director of Athletic Communication

BOULDER –
Sam McGee, former attacker for Colorado lacrosse, was hired as the assistant coach for the Colorado Buffaloes Lacrosse team, head coach Ann Elliott Whidden announced Friday, July 26.

McGee returns to CU after graduating in 2023 with a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership. This will be McGee's first Division I coaching endeavor after coaching at the club level for the last year.

"I am so excited to welcome Sam back to Boulder as an assistant coach," head coach Ann Elliott Whidden said. "Sam made a huge impact on our program in her two seasons playing as a graduate transfer from St. Joeseph's. She has a lot of experience that I believe will be really beneficial as she transitions into her first collegiate coaching role. Her familiarity with our systems, style of play on offense and the draw will be a big asset to us. Additionally, Sam has a lot of great experience coaching at the club level that will translate both on and off the field. I could not be more excited to hire my first former player as a full-time assistant coach. The passion and commitment that comes with coaching at a school you played for is unmatched. We are really looking forward to having Sam on board with the rest of our staff."

As a two-year starter for the Buffs, McGee totaled 88 goals, 64 draw controls, eight assists and 96 points. She also picked up 19 ground balls and caused 16 turnovers. A significant performance for McGee came at Arizona State on March 26, 2023, where she had six goals. Prior to competing at CU, McGee played all four years of her undergraduate campaign for Saint Joseph's University. In her time at St. Joe's, she totaled 85 goals, 31 assists, 16 draw controls, 21 caused turnovers, 29 groundballs and 116 points.

"I am thrilled to return to CU to join the women's lacrosse team as an assistant coach," assistant coach Sam McGee said. "I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to play at CU myself and found a family here. CU holds a special place in my heart, and the opportunity to come back to a place where I feel so at home and contribute to a program I deeply admire is truly exciting. I am eager to work with our talented and dedicated athletes, helping them achieve their goals both on and off the field. Being part of such a passionate and driven coaching staff is an honor, and I look forward to bringing my experiences and enthusiasm to the team."

McGee was born in Abington, Pa., went to Abington High School and played club lacrosse for Phantastix Lacrosse Club. Her father, Jason McGee, also played lacrosse at West Chester (1990-1994) and saw coaching stints at Abington HS and St. Joe's.

McGee replaces Nicole Beardsley, who was the assistant coach the previous two seasons before moving on to coach at Stanford.

In 2024, the Buffs (13-6, 5-2 Pac-12) came in second in the Pac-12 conference after falling to Stanford, 11-8, in the Pac-12 Championship match. Colorado ended the season ranked 20th in the USA Lacrosse poll and 22nd in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) poll. Senior attacked Madeline Pisani and sophomore defender Jess Peluso were both earned USA Lacrosse Magazine All-America Honorable Mentions at the end of the 2024 season, and four Buffs were chosen for the All-Pac-12 Team. The Buffs are coached by 11th-year head coach Ann Elliott Whidden 122-67 (.646), who was named IWLCA West/Midwest Region Coach of the Year (2017 and '18), was the 2018 Pac-12 Coach of the Year and 2017 MPSF Coach of the Year.

For more information on the Colorado women's lacrosse team, a complete schedule and results, please visit CUBuffs.com. Fans of the Buffs can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @CUBuffsWLax.
"
 
I've been a little lazy updating this thread, but that doesn't mean there hasn't been a lot of news related to the lax team. (I haven't been in a big hurry to update since the season is still over 2 months from starting.)
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1st, the team released its schedule last month, and also announced a BIG facility change. Namely, after using Kittredge Field as its main home for the 1st ~11 seasons (the team started play in 2014), its home games starting this season will be at Prentup Field (soccer's longtime home).

With the move, the team will also be able to require tickets to attend their home games for the 1st time. From the ticketing website, looks like general admission season ticket price is $100 (plus fees), with a premium option being available $125. (Assume / guess (???) the premium ticket is similar to soccer's, where there's a special center section of bleachers available to sit in, along with a few other things.?.) Single game tickets aren't available yet. (the website says they'll become available next month

With lacrosse being the outside sport whose season is in the generally roughest weather to start with, assume it's going to be a nice challenge for the grounds crew to keep Prentup Field (which I'm assuming will stay a natural grass field?) playable. (Kittredge is artificial turf.)

Looking at the schedule, looks like the team is going to start with a GREAT/ tough challenge, with 3 road games starting the season, starting with familiar foes being the other 2 longtime best Pac 12 foes (Stanford and USC), followed up with a trip to THE perennial NCAA power, Northwestern. (Figure they'll have to keep non-conference tough, as the Big 12, other than Florida (who finished ranked #7 last season, so better than any Pac 12 team), doesn't look to have many good RPI teams for next season, although hopefully all the conference-mates will be improving QUICKLY.)

One other cool thing jumping out to me is the Buffs are going to be hosting the inaugural Big 12 Conference Tourney.




Article - https://cubuffs.com/news/2024/11/13...gural-big-12-lacrosse-season-at-prentup-field

"

Colorado Lacrosse Announces 2025 Schedule, Inaugural Big 12 Lacrosse Season at Prentup Field​

The Buffs will host the 2025 Big 12 Lacrosse Championship and play at Prentup Field this spring

By: Malala Pyle, Assistant Director of Athletic Communication

BOULDER – The Colorado lacrosse team officially revealed its 2025 competition schedule on Wednesday, Nov. 13, with the Buffaloes set to enter uncharted territory in a new conference this upcoming Spring, 11th-year head coach Ann Elliott Whidden announced.

The 2025 season will be historic for the six teams competing in the Big 12 as it marks the first-ever lacrosse season for the conference. Colorado, Arizona State and Cincinnati will be joined by three affiliate teams, Florida, San Diego State and UC Davis, to kick off a new era in the Big 12.

"We are really excited about our schedule and the opportunities it will give us to compete at the highest level, against some of the best teams in the country – two that were in final four last year and numerous other NCAA tournament teams," Coach Whidden said.

For the inaugural season, the Buffaloes have been selected to host the Big 12 Tournament at Prentup Field on May 1-3 at the conclusion of the 2025 regular season. Teams will play a single round-robin, consisting of five games, with the top four teams advancing to the Big 12 Championship. Similarly to winning the Pac-12, winning the Big 12 Championship will serve as an automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Tournament.

"Hosting the inaugural Big 12 Championships is such a great opportunity," Coach Whidden said. "Our administrators have been great supporters of lacrosse and advocating for the Big 12 to add lacrosse. It's an honor to host this first championship and we will look to make it special for all the student athletes involved."

For the first time, the Colorado lacrosse team will play its home games at Prentup Field after playing its previous home seasons at Kittredge Field. The change will enable the lacrosse team to utilize fan amenities at Prentup while also being able to play games under the lights. Tickets can be found here.

"We have some great teams coming to Boulder this spring which is really exciting," Coach Whidden said. "While Kittredge Field has been our main home for the past 12 years, we are excited to have opportunity to play some games at Prentup this season. It allows us flexibility in game time and gives our fans the best experience with the new concession and restroom facilities, more parking and a family friendly environment."

Although Colorado will be playing in a new conference, the team will open the spring campaign against two familiar foes in Stanford and USC. After the opener in Palo Alto, Calif. on Feb. 13, the Buffs will head north to Berkeley to play the Trojans on Feb. 16.

Colorado will continue its season on the road with a trip to Northwestern (Feb. 21) before traveling back to Boulder where the team will stay for almost a month. The Buffs are set to host five straight home games with matchups against Army (Feb. 28), Michigan (Mar. 8), Marquette (Mar. 11), Iona (Mar. 15) and Stony Brook (Mar. 20). Colorado then wraps up the bulk of nonconference play with a game against Dartmouth on March 23 in Houston, Texas.

The Buffs open conference play on the road at San Diego State (Mar. 29) followed by a game at Arizona State (Apr. 6). CU will play its first ever Big 12 conference match at home against Florida on April 12, followed by the last nonconference opponent in rival Denver (Apr. 17). The Black and Gold will finish up the regular season at home with UC Davis (Apr. 20) and on the road at Cincinnati (Apr. 26).

"This is the type of schedule our players want and get excited about," Coach Whidden said. "We know each week is going to challenge us and help us grow as a team. We know how important every game is from last year and we have to be ready for each opportunity."
...
"
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Also, an article was released today after the team finished its fall off-season training program - https://cubuffs.com/news/2024/12/5/colorado-lacrosse-wraps-up-fall-eyes-first-season-in-big-12

"

Colorado Lacrosse Wraps Up Fall, Eyes First Season in Big 12​

The Buffs will play all 2025 season home games at Prentup Field and host the Inaugural Big 12 Lacrosse Championship in May
By: Malala Pyle, Assistant Director of Athletic Communication

Inaugural Big 12 Lacrosse Championship in May
By: Malala Pyle, Assistant Director of Athletic Communication
BOULDER – The Colorado Lacrosse team closed out its fall schedule this week after finishing its last fall practices and lifts.

The Buffs played eight exhibition games throughout the fall. The team started off with a stint back East with Navy, Rutgers, James Madison (JMU), Loyola Maryland and St. Joe's. Colorado followed up with two scrimmages at home – one against Regis and one against in-state nonconference rival Denver – and wrapped up the fall with the annual Alumni Game. Denver, JMU and Loyola made it to the NCAA second round last season, making for a highly competitive round of fall ball for CU.

"We feel so fortunate for the competition we had this fall," head coach Ann Elliott Whidden said. "We got to play a few different teams that we don't normally play, and that challenged us and put our players in positions where they had to adapt on their own as scrimmages went on. That experience is huge for us and to just see different styles of play on both offensive and defensive ends."

Colorado returns five of last years' seniors for their graduate and fifth year campaigns, making up for the four seniors lost at the end of the 2024 season. The team also gains nine newcomers, including eight freshmen and a transfer from Colorado College.

"We have a lot of players returning from last year and we are excited to build off our systems of the past two years," Whidden said. "Our freshmen class had a great fall, consistently improving throughout and got great experience during our fall scrimmages. One thing we love about that class and really where our team is at now, is we feel we have depth at each position and versatility which gives us the ability to move people around based on what we need."
...

All eight Buff home games will be played at Prentup Field, and Colorado is set to host the first ever Big 12 Lacrosse Championship after the conclusion of the regular season. Teams will play a single round-robin, consisting of five games, with the top four teams advancing to the Big 12 Championship. Like winning the Pac-12, winning the Big 12 Championship will serve as an automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Though the Buffs will see some new conference opponents this season, the team will open the spring campaign against two familiar foes in Stanford and USC on Feb. 13 and Feb. 16.

"We know we have a competitive schedule from start to finish this spring," Whidden said. "We have a lot of work to be done to be ready for it. But this fall gave us a great foundation to build off come January and we are focused on the process of getting better one day at a time."

Fans can purchase their season tickets here and view the full schedule here.
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Congrats to Ms. Pisani for her pre-season recognition. Hope it's eventually followed by the same (or greater!) POST-season honors!

 
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