by Kurt Cabral
Graduate Assistant
Sports Information

UMass Dartmouth women's lacrosse club
elevated to varsity status for the 1998 season

(Dartmouth, MA) -- Starting this spring, the women's lacrosse team at UMass Dartmouth will make history by seeing NCAA Division III action for the first time under a varsity banner.

Since the club's formation in 1992, the team has grown under the guidance of Coach Gerald Jennings, who encouraged the women's efforts and become an active supporter of lacrosse beginning last year.

"I became involved in the club on behalf of the players who were searching for a coach," said Jennings, who also coaches men's swimming and diving along with serving at Intramural Director at UMass Dartmouth. "I could see they were hardworking people who were determined to make it work. So, I told them, I would be their coach and the salary they gave me I gave back to them to get uniforms and travel."

Now with university backing and elevation to varsity status for 1998, Jennings hopes to build the team, and match or improve upon last year's 3-3 season as a club squad.

"We'll take our lumps this year being a new varsity team," admitted Jennings. "However, by the time we come back from South Carolina before the season opens on April 3, we will have trained intensely, played some scrimmage games against some established teams, which will be very helpful to get us ready."

Jennings will be relying heavily on strong players such as senior captain Emily Rowe (Falmouth, MA), who played for the Corsairs' club team a year ago. The Corsairs will also be looking for some contributors from 36 women who tried out for the team. Twenty-six players made the Corsairs' roster making them the largest women's varsity sport at the campus.

Jennings is counting on newcomers to the game like sophomore defensive player Shannon Weaver (Blanford, MA), junior defensive player Channa Jones (Walpole, MA), and first-year defensive player Sarah Tuxbury (Sudbury, MA). Tuxbury played lacrosse in high school and according to Jennings will make a great contribution in her first season.

The newer players will be guided by co-captains junior Stacy Millen (Weston, MA) at defense and senior Lisa Coffey (Plainville, MA) positioned at attack. Joining them in their efforts will be senior Lisa Haynes (Pembroke, Bermuda), who just started playing the game last spring, but whose hard work earned her the distinction of last season's top scorer. Among the others who Jennings hopes will make a difference this year are sophomore Jamie Santapaula (Haverhill, MA) and junior Janice Hopper (Dracut, MA)

Jennings said he is thankful for all the support he has received since the transformation to a varsity sport. "They don't feel like a club team trying to get in the backdoor," he added. "So now, it's up to the team and myself to develop and make this season as competitive as we can make it."

Jennings not only coaches women's lacrosse, but also is the head coach of men's and women's swimming. His success formula for building this team is based on the same three principles he uses no matter what team he's coaching. He expects players to be on time, pay attention and to do their best.

He will be supported by assistant coach Tracy McGrath, a former UMass Dartmouth lacrosse player, who was hired last year after she had graduated. Jennings thinks McGrath was a gifted athlete who will be a tremendous asset in forming a new team.

The Corsairs will open their first varsity season against Keene State College on April 3, beginning at 3 p.m. The home-opener kicks off an 11-game regular season.

In his team's historic first season, Jennings is hoping for as much support from fans as possible.

"One of the things that encouraged us last year was the women's first home game," Jennings said. "We played at the football stadium and they filled one half of it with fans."

"These women are committed and I treat them as any team I've every coached and we are pleased to be brought into the UMD family of varsity sports," Jennings said.

The women's lacrosse team joins the men's lacrosse team as the 24th and 25th varsity sports offered at UMass Dartmouth.