The women’s lacrosse team looks to make it back into the Middle Atlantic Conference playoffs after missing the opportunity by one spot last season.

The team will be  led by a large senior class including Madeleine Brownsey, Melanie Rivera, Catherine Conte, Katherine Block, Tori Kerr, Emily Ketterman and Jessica MacConchie. Head coach Kammie Towey has confidence in her seniors to guide the team to finish strong and improve from last year.

“I am hoping to improve on our conference play, making sure we play fundamentally sound in conference as well as work on finishing,” Towey said. “Last year we struggled to finish at the end. We need to play consistent and finish strong.”

The Lady Colonels kick off their season on March 4 against Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pa. The team will have nine non-conference games before beginning MAC conference play where they will prepare for tough opponents for a playoff spot. Coach Towey claims Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham and Misericordia University will be top competitors to beat in the league.

Madeleine Brownsey, a senior and captain,  is excited to begin her final season with hopes to bring home a championship and leave everything out on the field.

“We’re preparing ourselves for upcoming games by pinpointing the things we need to work on based off of last season,” Brownsey said. “We also have already begun working on our plays which is good because sometimes plays can be a little rough the first game or two.”

Improving on mistakes from last year will propel the Lady Colonels to a successful season. The women will also benefit from having strong team chemistry to guide them in using their skills and close-knit bond to capitalize on their opponents.

Senior Meaghan Skelly shares how her role on the squad will motivate not only herself, but her individual teammates.

“We have a really strong bond off the field, and although we all get along great outside of practice, we come to practice serious and ready to train,” Skelly said. “We do a great job of inspiring each other and continuing to motivate one another throughout preseason. Our team dynamic is really something special.”

Brownsey also relates to Skelly with a similar perspective, taking her role as a senior in heavy consideration.

“My mindset for the season is to give it everything I have for every game,” Brownsey said. “That way, no matter what the end results are, I’ll know that I finished my college career giving it my all.”

While winning is the ultimate goal for any sports team, Towey loves to see her players succeed on and off the field, especially those who are heading out into the real world.

“I like getting to know each individual personality and how funny and unique each player is,” Towey said.  “And after four years of coaching them from freshman year through senior year I am confident that they are ready for the real world and will do great things.”

The women will play their first home game at Schmidt Stadium on March 11 at 7 p.m., looking to take down Houghton College. They follow the next day with another home game against Moravian College at 1 p.m..