Lacrosse continues to win without coach
Published Feb. 16, 2007
As much as some MU sports fans complain about the performance of coaches, it could be worse. The women's club lacrosse team is competing without one. Despite this, the team won its first three games of its season by at least 10 goals.
The team went to Lincoln, Neb., for a three game set, logging wins over Creighton, Nebraska and Oklahoma State. For the Tigers, many of the members' high school experience proved valuable.
"I would just say that, as a whole, a lot of us played in high school," Co-captain Abby Schamel said. "We've got girls that know how to play with each other."
Co-captain Kim Kamper said the team was more prepared than the competition.
"The teams we played weren't the hardest competition," she said.
Co-captain Lisa Haferkamp said that despite the team's wins, there are limitations in not having a coach.
"It's hard to be in control of motivation, enthusiasm and teaching," she said.
For Schamel, there are advantages in not having a coach, including reduced dues.
"We really haven't actively pursued it," she said. "We kind of like managing ourselves as of right now, but we're always up for change. We get to make decisions more as a team."
Schamel said though nine of the 12 teams in the Central Plains Women's Lacrosse League have coaches, the team is still respected.
"I think we're still respected, and maybe even asked, like, 'How do you guys do it?'" she said.
Last season, the team qualified for national competition but was unable to go due to a lack of funding. Schamel said it was a tough feeling.
"It was really hard because our win over Lindenwood (University) was enormous," she said.
Schamel said if the team can qualify this year, it will be more prepared.
"I think we would be a little bit more prepared going into it," she said. "Last year it was kind of a shocker."
Kamper also said the team needed more preparation.
"We never really knew what was happening," she said.
Kamper said this season, the team members recognize the possibility of nationals and have planned accordingly.
"We're all really committed this year," she said.
But if the university doesn't pitch in, the team will be out of luck.
"There's no way that we are able to raise that money just by ourselves," Haferkamp said.
Schamel said she feels that a coach wouldn't be enough to be the difference in receiving funding.
"I wouldn't think it would be an issue," she said. "Club sports is really about college students, not about the coaches."
Next for the team is a three-game weekend on March 3-4 at home. The team plays Principia College and Saint Louis University on Saturday and Arkansas on Sunday.