UWRF women’s lacrosse hosts tournament
April 17, 2008
The UW-River Falls women’s lacrosse team is trying to get as many games in as possible, so they chose to participate in a tournament last weekend. The tournament consisted of 15 teams getting as much game time in as they could before the playoffs begin.
“The tournament was really more of play day,” team President Maria Hockert said. “We just call it a tournament because otherwise no one would know what we’re talking about.”
This is the third straight year that UWRF has participated in this tournament. It is being held at the intramural fields on campus.
Maria Hockert has been the team president for 3 1/2 years and is responsible for scheduling games and practices.
According to Hockert, the tournament keeps on expanding. Last year, there were only 10 teams. Four more teams joined the league in the off-season, making the tournament bigger.
UWRF played a total of six games in 48 hours this past weekend, winning four of them.
UWRF has made it a tradition to host this tournament because of the well-conditioned intramural fields. North Central Women’s Lacrosse League (NCWLL) has told Hockert the league likes the UWRF fields above all other grass fields. River Falls is also in a central location for all the teams.
The women’s lacrosse team has made great strides in the past few years. Several years ago, the team didn’t have a full team, so they had to play shorthanded.
A full lacrosse team must have 11 players and a goalie. Now, UWRF has been able to field a full team with substitutions.
“We’ve had a lot of freshman come in and help our team,” Hockert said.
Now that the tournament has ended, the team looks for a playoff spot. They are currently tied with Bethel and Hamline for the last spot in the Lakes division.
If UWRF makes the playoffs, it will be the first time in eight years, Hockert said.
Hockert has also praised the team for their hard work during the season.
“This is the best team and most dedicated group of women that has ever stepped on the field in Falcon uniforms,” Hockert said in an e-mail interview.
To make the playoffs the team needs to finish in the top four in their division. The playoff will be held April 19-20 at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn.