EMU’s new Lacrosse team played for the first time this spring, only competing in two games before their season was cut short by the coronavirus. Here is a look at what the team has been doing. 

While this end to the season may be discouraging for some, head coach Katie Russo did not see it that way, saying “we definitely did not expect the result; however, we actually were able to see the positives in our season where we ended on our first historic win. The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of emotions; though, this is new to everyone, and we will all get through this together.” 

Russo continued, “I do not think everything has officially sunk in for many of our student-athletes.” She explained that they have been able to continue their season in a way, through weekly meetings and at-home workouts. 

Even though the season was short, Russo was thrilled to coach the team. “It was a surreal experience,” she said. “I would love to get back in a heartbeat. I am truly fortunate to have my position at EMU, since the student-athletes are what make me love my job. They are doing something incredible at EMU, and I am thankful to be a part of the journey. We collected our very first win together, and are eager to back out there as soon as we can.” 

While their first season was not what it was imagined to be, there will be much more to come for EMU’s Lacrosse team. “We can only grow, where we will continue to bring an exciting game to the EMU turf field. We have set high goals for our program, where we strive to improve every year,” said Russo. 

Finally, Russo explained the team’s word of the year: Perseverance. “We will all get through these times as one, and everyone will be able to walk the campus very soon in the fall.  I have been very optimistic through these times, since I know it is only temporary. We will all come back stronger together, and lead together the EMU way.” 

First-year Ashlyn Eby expressed similar sentiments about this season; she felt great after their first game. “It felt like everything was finally clicking into place,” she said. She felt the team becoming a cohesive unit, and felt like they “were building momentum into the rest of our season that we were looking forward to. It was the first time that our entire team was playing together and we could see that everything we had done to get to this point was finally paying off.” 

Eby was disappointed to see the season get cut short like it was, saying much of the team had been “looking forward to playing in college since [they] were in middle school.” The cancellation of most of the season came as a shock to her and much of the team. First-year and teammate Arianna Nixon echoed Eby. “We honestly were so disappointed we had spent so much time together and fought so hard and had just gotten our first win in program history,” she said. “So for it to end because of something that was out of our control was definitely hard.” 

On the upside, Eby was happy to report “We did get our season of eligibility back so we can play an extra season after we graduate, most likely through grad school. It is also in some ways good for our team because we are a first-year team so we got those two games under our belt, we got experience playing collegiate athletics, and we got a full year to bond as a team and next year we get to start all over.”

Next year, Eby says that the team will be better than ever. “For starters… we will be a team with experience. We will know what we are doing, and we will already have team chemistry established.” They get to continue to build the legacy of the team, “ensuring that it will be strong for years to come,” she said. 

Nixon had the same view, saying there is lots more to come for the team. “As far as what we have to look forward to, we’re hungry! We’re ready to get after it! We are doing workouts individually and virtual team Zooms to check up on each other and bond as a team.” She sees good things in the future. 

Virtual meetings have been working well for the team. Eby says she looks forward to them each week. It is a way to build their culture from miles apart. “We’re starting a sister program where each week we are paired up with another teammate to check in with each other as a way to learn more about one another and keep each other motivated. I think it’s really going to help us grow closer as a team and will keep us motivated through whatever is to come.” 

Eby and the EMU Lacrosse team are staying optimistic and looking at the bright sides of this unorthodox finish to the school year. While disappointed at their shortened time together, they look forward to all the good things to come next season.