Coach Lauren Hay congratulates seniors, encourages returning players
Prospects are looking good for the Patriots for next season. Returning players have improved this season and sec- ond place Temple University is leaving the A10. (IAN MOSTROM BROADSIDE)
The final seconds ticked off the collegiate career of eight women’s lacrosse seniors on April 21, as Mason fell to William & Mary, 16-12.
Senior attacker Allie Hilderbrandt led the way in scoring with a career- high six goals for Mason, capping off a season of solid play for the team.
The loss was Mason’s seventh consecutive defeat, all of which were against CAA rivals.
“We played an exciting game, our girls fought back late in the second half and it is always tough to lose, especially when you are saying goodbye to the senior class.” said coach Lauren Hay. “I would like to recognize the hard work of all eight seniors have put in their careers at Mason. All will graduate from here and I am proud to have watched them grow as people and athletes.”
Looking back on the season as a whole, Mason had and up and down season, claiming all of their victories against non-conference opponents while being bested by all their CAA foes. Mason finished the season with a record of 5-11, going 0-7 in CAA play.
“Overall, we had many contributions by numerous players. Our seniors had phenomenal seasons, our underclassmen got plenty of experience, and we had a successful non-conference season,” Hay said.
As a result of the move from the CAA to the Atlantic 10 next season, the women’s lacrosse team is a part of the group of spring sports left out of postseason play as a result of the conference switch.
Coach Hay was disappointed to not be able to compete in the CAA Tournament, but is excited for the move to the A-10.
“I am excited to lead this transition and feel that we will be very competitive. We will get to experience new conference rivalries and we welcome the opportunity to win an A-10 championship,” Hay said. “We are leaving a very competitive conference and moving to one that also has some storied programs.”
Mason’s lacrosse team will face stiff competition in the A-10, the biggest of which is the University of Massachusetts Amherst, who have dominated the A-10 in conference play, winning the past four A-10 conference championships.
Mason catches a break in A-10 play though because the school with the second most A-10 women’s lacrosse championship wins, Temple University, is leaving the A-10 for next season to the Big East conference.
Mason’s lacrosse team hopes to regroup after this season and take the lessons learned from the results of this season into next season with their returning underclassmen and get help from incoming recruits.
“At the end of each season, you always assess and brainstorm as a coaching staff on ways to improve practice to have it translate to the game. We have a fall season playing other opponents to help us achieve that,” Hay said. “The rest of the summer is recruiting the next wave Mason lacrosse players. We have a great nucleus coming back and a very talented freshman class joining the program.”
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