The women’s lacrosse team began preparations for the spring season, marking the team’s first season at Point Park.
Coach Erik Ingram and the three captains, Lexi Spears, Presley Masters and Taylor Desko have shared how the team has gone so far.
“I am loving every minute of the fall offseason,” Ingram said. “The training sessions, team meetings and lifts are always so fun, and it’s so rewarding to see how hard they work and how much progress has already been made.”
Echoing Ingram’s sentiments, the captains praised and recognized their fellow teammates for the work that they have put in.
“I believe our team has really excelled at discipline and accountability,” Desko said. “With a team of mostly freshmen, everyone has had to quickly adapt to new rules and the higher level of play, and they’ve done it with such a positive attitude.”
The difficulty that comes with a new team was not lost on them, as they all highlighted the persistence needed to break through the barriers they faced.
“The team has done a great job persevering,” Masters said. “It is an extremely difficult task to play on a brand new team with people you just met with no prior stones set in place. So, with how well everyone is already working together, it is very exciting. Every day we are getting so much better.”
Each of these captains were selected by coaches and players alike, deemed a largely unanimous decision by Ingram.
“Since this is a brand new program, it’s an honor to be one of the first captains and to help set the tone for the future of our team,” Desko said. “It’s rewarding to see the team come together and build connections both on and off the field that will translate into a successful upcoming season.”
Masters and Desko are both transfers that brought their experience from outside Point Park. Spears was the only player Ingram had on the team last year and was said to have been a key part in the level of players brought in.
“I feel blessed to have the opportunity to help lead them on and off the field. I absolutely love all the girls on the team, they are truly one of a kind,” Spears said. “They work hard and always put 100%, having this team finally at Point Park with me is a dream come true.”
While this group of women have confidence in their team and capabilities, there are still hurdles that need to be jumped as they work toward a successful spring season.
“The most difficult things will be creating cohesiveness and team chemistry, as well as building a culture within the team,” Ingram said. “Being that they are all newcomers, there is no current culture or systems of play for them to meld into, so it’s all new.”
The captains repeated this sentiment, stressing the importance of connection and chemistry for team culture.
“We have a talented group of players with a strong skill level, so the next step for us is building those on-field connections,” Desko said. “Since we’re still learning about each other’s style of play, it’s about figuring out how we can best support our teammates and put them in positions to succeed.”
The captains expressed their support for the coaches as well, as all three praised the coaching staff for the significant role they have played in their progress as a team.
“Our coach is a huge part of this as well, his way of coaching has changed so many things for me personally and I know other girls on the team as well,” Spears said. “So, I think between our compassion and our coach’s style, we are off to a great start.”
The strive to make a great team was a shared passion among Ingram and all of these women.
“Our flow on the field is something to be worked on, but that will come with time. We have already improved dramatically in the last four weeks and I truly can’t wait to see where things go in the future,” Spears said. “I have high hopes for an amazing first season.”
