GREENWOOD, Ind. –The Alderson Broaddus women’s lacrosse program is right on schedule in a near four-year timeline of development.
AB head coach Jennifer Guess has assembled a strong group of 21 student-athletes for this season in Philippi, W.V., while the newest sport in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference continues to round into form.
Strength in numbers is an understatement for a delineated Battlers’ 2016 roster with clear sets of each class, including three impact seniors.
Preseason is already underway and enthusiasm is sinking in about the prospect of a fresh start with a new year.
“We’re excited and it’s a big year for us,” said the fourth-year coach Guess. “I really feel like the fourth year is a big marker. We’ve got some seniors that have stuck with us and experienced the growing pains of establishing a program and all three should really contribute and help lead the squad through everything as we continue to move onward and upward.”
Alderson Broaddus experienced some of those expected speed bumps last season while playing out a 13-game schedule. But Guess liked what she saw and the Battlers had a strong contest against current conference member Ursuline on April 17 that demonstrated how close the two schools are.
Heading into this season, maturation has been elevated to another level while the Battlers are more ‘game smart’ and less frazzled.
The strength of this year’s group lies within the trio of seniors.
Senior Tia Kline anchors the defense along with senior Ellen Wilkins. Guess said Wilkins has found her nice on the defensive end of the field after playing all over since her arrival. Another senior, Aurora Winwood, will play primarily in the midfield to help connect the offense and defense more fluidly.
Junior Jasmine Barham led Alderson Broaddus last year with 18 goals.
Guess goes coast-to-coast to find future Battlers. From California to Florida, AB’s roster is widespread and diverse. Eight of the 21 are freshmen. She discussed a few of the traits she looks for on the recruiting trail.
“I really look for heart and hustle,” said Guess, who competed at St. Bonaventure as an undergrad. “I want people that are going to work hard. If you’re making mistakes but trying to right things, that’s fine. I look at attitude and watch interactions with coaches, parents and teammates, after the game.”
With Davis & Elkins entering the first year of the program’s existence, AB has as good of chance of any of the three G-MAC schools to hold up the league’s first championship trophy.
To do that though, the Battlers are taking it one day and one game at a time. The overall goals and expectations of the program are clear; the preseason will set the tone with ramped up fitness testing and different offensive and defensive sets.
“It would be amazing (to hold up the first conference championship trophy),” Guess said. “It would mean everything to the seniors that have been here from the very start. They’ve lived and breathed AB women’s lacrosse.”
As of now, there are three teams in the G-MAC conference (AB, Davis & Elkins, Ursuline) that have women's lacrosse programs. The lacrosse landscape will expand in 2017 to at least seven schools, including new conference members Findlay, Lake Erie and Walsh. Ohio Valley will also sponsor the growing sport by this time.
Guess and the Battlers officially begin the regular season on Friday, Feb. 26, at the University of Charleston.