non-traditional areas, recruit athletes and I like to recruit character as well,” White said. “I use the metaphor of building a house. You want to make sure your foundation is solid. When you think about the future, what we do right now is so important.” There are 92 NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse programs, but San Diego State is the only one in Southern California. (USC debuts in 2013). White has brought together players from seven states — including seven each from California and Maryland — and two countries (sophomore Isabella Pickett is from Australia and played for its U19 team). White went young on the 26-player
roster, which includes 23 freshmen and three sophomores. “I didn’t want preconceived notions,” she said. “I just wanted to start fresh, a clean slate. Let’s do it our way, the Aztec way.” White, who plays on the Canadian
national team, and assistant coach Lauren Schwarzmann, a Team USA vet who played at Johns Hopkins, provided the leadership while the team developed its identity and leaders emerged in preseason.
some have embraced it — like sophomore Meris Walsh, a Maryland native who played last year for the NCAA runner-up Terps. “It’s the thought that we’re making history,” Walsh said. “Everything we do matters, and every point we score is going to go down in history. Every team from here on out is going to look back at us and want to beat us.” Teammate Lauren Paul, a freshman
from Grasonville, Md., believes some opponents may underestimate the Aztecs. “They’re just thinking we’re freshmen
Kylee White is in her first season as head coach of start-up San Diego State.
Freshman Spencer Harden was the first
player to commit to SDSU. It was an easy sell for Harden, who played at Carlsbad High in northern San Diego County. “I’ve always been a fan of San Diego
State,” Harden said. “I grew up going to the football games and my mom graduated from here. It’s always been a part of my family.” White said selling players on the West Coast has been a challenge, although
COMING IN 2013: CENTURY MARK ON THE HORIZON
The NCAA Division I
women’s lacrosse ranks will swell to 100 teams in 2013, with eight new programs set to launch. The growth is primarily in the Southeast, where the Atlantic Sun and Big South conferences will sponsor the sport. Here’s a look at eight new Division I programs in the fold for 2013:
Southern California USC makes the most anticipated debut. Head coach Lindsey Munday nabbed U.S. teammate Devon Wills as her top assistant, lured a former No. 1 recruit (Kelly Austin) to transfer from Virginia and inked local star Kaitlyn Couture of Coronado.
Marquette
Head coach Meredith Simon Black, formerly an assistant at Cal, got two quality assistants in former Seton Hill head coach Courtney Tamasitis and former
>>
Notre Dame All-American Jackie Doherty. Her first recruiting class includes two transfers with Division I experience.
Delaware State Delaware State will join Howard as the only historically black colleges with Division I lacrosse. Jillian Lontz, formerly an assistant at Division III Wesley, is the Hornets’ first head coach.
Coastal Carolina Head coach Jamie Sellers took a cross- country leap of faith after three years as an assistant at Stanford. She signed 18 recruits in November, including two defenders ranked among the top 25 by ESPN.
Winthrop
After pushing back its start date from 2012 to 2013, Winthrop has given head coach John Sung — who built Adrian (Mich.) into a Division III top-20 contender — a
34 LACROSSE MAGAZINE March 2012
full recruiting cycle to get its women’s lacrosse team off the ground.
Stetson
The Hatters hired Nicole Moore, a well- reputed assistant coach with stints at Vermont, Temple and Canisius, to launch their program.
Campbell Head coach Phil
Schuman, a former goalie for Washington College, was an assistant coach at High Point when it set a record for first-year programs with 15 wins in 2011.
Kennesaw State KSU announced the
addition of women’s lacrosse in November, stating it would begin its search for a head coach in “late winter or early spring.”
— Matt DaSilva
USC got local prep star Kaitlyn Couture to stay in SoCal.
A Publication of US Lacrosse
and they can run all over us,” Paul said. “They don’t know that we’re fast and strong and powerful. We can give them a run for their money.” The Aztecs will compete in the Mountain Sports
Pacific Federation against
opponents like Stanford, Cal, Oregon and Denver. San Diego State’s 15-game season schedule includes Ohio State and an East Coast trip to Pennsylvania to play La Salle, Lafayette and Saint Francis. Said Walsh: “I’m not expecting to win
every game, but I want to step off the field and know we tried our hardest. That’s kind of my main goal, to kick butt.” LM
©DIRK DEWACHTER (ALL)
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