This spring, Southern Vermont College (SVC) is introducing its very first women’s lacrosse program into the athletics department. SVC will now have another group of Mountaineers in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC). Every new Mountaineer is ready to begin a new chapter in SVC athletics.
SVC sophomore, Melodie Orrell states “I am very excited! I think that being one of the first people to be a part of the very first SVC lacrosse team is very special and memorable.” Melodie began her start in lacrosse during her freshman year in high school, which has allowed her to gain four years of experience in the sport.
SVC sophomore, Emily Lesure states “I am thrilled to be a part of Southern Vermont’s very first women’s lacrosse team! I love new opportunities and lacrosse is my favorite sport, so I couldn’t be happier! It is a pretty good feeling to be helping SVC make history as well.” Emily will come into this season with six years of lacrosse experience and have played one year at the college level.
New head coach Thomas L. Otero is also very ecstatic to be coaching SVC’s very first lacrosse team. When Coach Otero was asked why he decided to coach SVC’s lacrosse inaugural season he said “I looked at the opportunity as a challenge, being from the local community and a former adjunct faculty member, I feel that I have a vested interest in the college. I was able to develop our local high school program into a Vermont state champion and a respected top 4 team each year. I want to do that with SVC lacrosse.”
Even though the lacrosse roster has 15 women players, eight have no experience playing lacrosse. Coach Otero and the rest of the roster have not allowed that to impact the team’s chemistry. They all have come together as one and have helped each other gain the confidence needed to be able to have an enjoyable first season. Since the beginning of preseason, everyone has improved and continues to improve as the start of season gets closer.
“I think we can be competitive if the players work harder on their skills. I have players that would start on any other team in the NECC, so the potential is there. Key positions are the goalie and defense. I have a player who stepped up to the goalie task and she is progressing really nicely, I am still looking for lock-down defenders, but there are a couple of candidates.” Coach Otero has a great feeling about this 2014-2015 lacrosse season.
Both Melodie and Emily Lesure feel like preseason is going well. Everyone is working hard and Coach Otero is helping everyone learn the game the way it should be played. Coach Otero is constantly bringing new drills to practice and that is helping everyone improve every day.
The girls will be set to take the field on March 12th at Colby-Sawyer College. Their very first home game is on March 24th against Daniel Webster College.