NCAA Div III Lacrosse: Redlands Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach Suzette Soboti Honored As “2013 IWLCA West Region Coach Of The Year”

Redlands Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach Suzette Soboti

Suzette Soboti led University of Redlands to back-to-back SCIAC Championships en route to a 15-5 overall record and a nearly perfect conference mark of 11-1. The Bulldogs ran the table at the SCIAC Tournament after clinching the title with a semifinal win over Pomona-Pitzer Colleges.

The Maroon and Gray advanced to the NCAA Division III Championships for the third time in school history and served as host to the opening round in consecutive seasons. Redlands gained eight All-SCIAC honorees, including midfielder Jacky Craycraft as the SCIAC Player of the Year and midfielder Stephanie Garrett as the SCIAC Newcomer of the Year.

Six Bulldogs landed on the IWLCA All-West Region teams and Craycraft garnered a pair of All-America distinctions. Bulldog goalkeeper Ana Martinez reset the school record for career saves and midfielder Crystal Painter now sits atop the program’s list for career assists.

NCAA Div III Lacrosse: Redlands Women’s Lacrosse Loses Five-Goal Lead And Game To Augustana College 11-10 On May 8 In First Round Of NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Tournament

During a frenetic final 12 minutes, the Augustana College (IL) Vikings overcame a five-goal deficit to stun the University of Redlands Bulldogs during the first round of the 2013 NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championships at Farquhar Field on Wednesday night. Despite making its first-ever NCAA appearance, Augustana rallied back for an exciting 11-10 victory by firing off seven of the game’s final eight goals, highlighted by the game-winner with seven seconds remaining in the game.
Down by a score of 4-9 with 13:08 left in the second stanza, the Vikings won the draw after off-setting fouls and then quickly converted a free-position opportunity when sophomore midfielder Allie Roehrenbeck (Gahanna, OH) uncorked her first score of the game with 11:42 to go.
Two minutes later, a series of turnovers ended in the hands of Viking freshman midfielder Rebecca Pollard (Carmel, IN). The Augustana offense then worked the ball around to set up a scoring pass from Roehrenbeck to freshman attack player Kaylee Nolan (Orland Park, IL).
A goal by Pollard at the 8:32-mark made it 7-9, but Redlands’ junior attack player Allie Hoffler (Draper, UT) fought to change the momentum by uncorking her third netter of the game.
Leading by a score of 10-7, the Bulldogs looked to graduate goalkeeper Ana Martinez (Pleasanton, CA) to come up with three straight saves over the next two minutes, keeping the Vikings at bay.
However, Augustana refused to go away, converting three goals over the next five minutes while defensively shutting down the Maroon and Gray. Shortly after a timeout, sophomore attack player Christina Letmanski (Wheaton, IL) found the back of the net with 1:41 remaining to tie it up for the Vikings.

NCAA Lacrosse: Redlands Women’s Lacrosse Defeated Chapman 10-5 In SCIAC Tournamant Championship On May 4; Earns “At-Large Bid” To “2013 NCAA Div III Women’s Lacrosse Championships” And Hosts Augustana On May 8

With Saturday’s 10-5 win over the visiting Panthers of Chapman University, the University of Redlands women’s lacrosse team captured the 2013 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Championship Tournament title while also securing the regular-season championship for the second year in a row. With an accumulation of points from the dual matches and the tournament results, the Bulldogs garnered 16 points to the second-place Panthers’ 13.

Equipped with a 15-4 overall record and the 2013 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) regular-season and tournament titles, the University of Redlands women’s lacrosse team garnered an at-large berth to the NCAA Division III Championships as the host of a first-round game against Augustana College (IL).  The Bulldogs welcome the Vikings to Farquhar Field on Wed., May 8, for a 7 p.m. game.

The Bulldogs make their third consecutive appearance at the NCAA Division III Championships, following last season’s historical run that included the program’s inaugural NCAA tournament victory.

On Feb. 21, Redlands knocked off Augustana in the Vikings’ season-opener by a score of 18-6.  The Bulldogs led wire-to-wire after rattling off seven unanswered goals to start the game.  Senior attack player Aimee Dewan (Alamo, CA), junior midfielder KK McCaslin (Portland, OR), and freshman midfielder Stephanie Garrett (San Diego, CA) led the onslaught with two goals apiece during the opening 20 minutes.

In only its third year of varsity competition, Augustana punched its inaugural ticket to the NCAA Championships by winning the Midwest Women’s Lacrosse Conference Tournament in a frenetic 10-9 win over North Central College (IL) on Saturday.  The Vikings held off a late push by the opponents to hold on for the championship and the automatic bid while recording their 13th triumph in a row.

Augustana also captured the regular-season title with an 8-0 run through the MWLC during the Vikings’ first season in the league.

NCAA Div III Lacrosse: Redlands Women’s Lacrosse Defeated #19 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 14-13 On Feb 19; Bulldogs Are One Of The Top Lacrosse Programs West Of The Mississippi

The 14th-year program in Southern California has only finished below .500 once since 2005, compiling a 69-45 record during that stretch. Last year the Bulldogs defeated teams from Georgia, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Ohio, Washington and Oregon, and reached their first NCAA tournament.

Redlands women's lacrosse is without a doubt one of the most successful Division III teams from west of the Mississippi River.

But until Sunday night, when Redlands rode a late rally to win 14-13 at No. 19 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, it could never claim to be the best team in 909 area code. The victory was the Bulldogs first ever over their local rivals, who sit a 40-minute drive west on Interstate-10.

“It’s definitely an exciting milestone,” said Suzette Soboti, who has coached Redlands since its inception in 1999. “I’m happy for our alumni and the girls that have been with the program. Claremont has been, and still is, a very strong and perennial power. But we talked about it and we don’t want it to be the only thing that defines our season.”

That’s especially good advice considering Redlands will play CMS again, at home this time, on April 14. They could play them again in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament. And maybe, if last year is any indication, again in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Such is the nature of a competitive West Coast league with six teams.

For now Redlands enjoys an early first-place position and after just two games is the SCIAC’s only undefeated team.

Junior Crystal Painter’s game-winner is the reason for that. Painter’s goal capped a rally that saw Redlands erase a two-goal deficit in the final three minutes.

Redlands led by three early and didn’t trail until the 8:55 mark of the second half, when CMS broke an 11-11 tie with a goal by Erin Chavanne. Rachel Darby scored three minutes later to give CMS a two-point lead that held until 3:03 remaining, when Redlands sophomore Jacky Craycraft started the comeback with her fourth goal. Less than 30 seconds later senior Megan Prickett scored her third goal to tie it. Painter provided the game-winner on a free position with 7.7 seconds to go.

Expect the next game, and any subsequent rematches, to also be close. Redlands and CMS are both benefitting from the suddenly fertile recruiting grounds of Southern California. Craycraft and Prickett are both SoCal natives and 17 Bulldogs hail from California, Oregon or Washington.

“That’s increased in recent years,” Soboti said. “Now that the CIF, our high school league, is growing exponentially, there’s more players to choose from that have six years of prior experience… We get very involved working in the community. We’ve tried to help [lacrosse] grow in Southern California.”

Experience will be Redlands’ key to being more than the best of the west this year. The Bulldogs graduated just one player from their NCAA tournament team. The tournament experience, a 19-11 loss at CMS, should also come in handy.

“It does a lot for any team to have that first berth and get that experience,” Soboti said. “With that first experience you’re just in awe. You’re just excited to be there. That gives them a confidence they can draw on.”

As will Sunday’s victory when the teams meet again.

“They’re just a great group of girls,” Soboti said. “To finally get that monkey off our backs will be very good.”

For more:  http://www.laxmagazine.com/college_women/DIII/2011-12/news/022312_redlands_gets_past_southern_california_rival

NCAA Div II Lacrosse: Redlands Women’s Lacrosse (6-0) Defeated Puget Sound 21-6 On March 15

It was all blue skies on an afternoon that saw the University of Redlands women’s lacrosse team capitalize on a hot start to run away with an easy 21-6 home win over Puget Sound Tuesday.

The Univesity of Redlands' lacrosse team vs. the University of Puget Sound in Redlands Tuesday, March 15, 2011. (Eric Tom)

U of R coach Suzette Soboti, who’s sitting at the Redlands helm for her 13th season, said hadn’t seen much of Puget Sound coming in, but figured they’d put up a fight.

“The first half was a little bit surprising because we knew they’d played a couple of SCIAC teams and hung with them pretty well,” Soboti said. “But at the same time, we’re a strong team capable of that kind of performance.”

The Bulldogs (6-0, 1-0 SCIAC) soon extended their lead to 13-2, which they sat on throughout the final minutes of the half before sophomore midfielder Katie Colasurdo decided they’d been toying around long enough.

For more: 

For more:  http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/sports/ci_17622932

  

  

  

  

Date	Opponent	Time	Result
Feb. 20	at UCSB Shootout	Cancelled
	scrimmage
Feb. 23	Whittier  *	Final	Boxscore  Boxscore  Recap  Photos
Feb. 26	Occidental  *	Postponed	Preview
	Make-up TBA “Match & Meet” Night
Mar. 2	at Berry	Final	Boxscore  Recap
Mar. 4	vs. Carthage @ Sewanee, Tenn.	Final	Boxscore  Recap
	12 noon Central Time
Mar. 5	at Sewanee	Final	Boxscore  Boxscore  Recap
	10 a.m. Central Time
Mar. 11	Emerson	Final	Boxscore  Boxscore  Recap
Mar. 15	Puget Sound	Final	Boxscore  Boxscore  Recap
Mar. 17	Western New Eng.	7:00 PM	Preview
	ALS Awareness Night
Mar. 18	Denison	7:30 PM
Mar. 24	Linfield	7:00 PM
Mar. 30	Claremont-M-S  *	7:00 PM
	White Out!
Apr. 2	at Whittier  *	11:00 AM	Live stats
Apr. 6	at Pomona-Pitzer  *	7:00 PM
Apr. 9	at Claremont-M-S  *	1:00 PM
Apr. 13	at Occidental  *	7:00 PM
Apr. 16	Pomona-Pitzer  *	7:00 PM
Apr. 30	TBA  *	TBA
	SCIAC Championship Tournament
May. 1	TBA  *	TBA
	SCIAC Championship Tournament

For more:  http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/sports/ci_17622932

Midway through the first, the Bulldogs had outscored the Loggers 7-0 after freshman midfielder KK McCaslin hit home on an assist from junior attacker Kali Wilgus, and it was smooth sailing from there on out.

California College Women’s Lacrosse: Redlands Women’s Lacrosse (11-8) Completed Successful 2010 Season By Advancing To SCIAC Tournament Championship Game

 

Record: 11-8, 6-4 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (2nd in conference)

Playoffs: Advanced to the finals of the first-ever SCIAC Tournament Championship where they lost to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 16-11

Season Summary: Taking part in just its 12th year as a varsity sport, the University of Redlands women’s lacrosse team did something it had never done before in the 2010 season –

compete for a SCIAC championship.

After years of playing only a non-conference schedule, the Bulldogs got the opportunity to play for a conference title and came close to making it a dream season.

Redlands opened up with their first-ever “SCIAC showdown” when they hosted Occidental College to begin the season.

A rematch with Whittier in the semifinals produced another Bulldog win, 14-6, and advanced Redlands to the finals to face their nemesis in C-M-S.

In a hard-fought match that proved to be the closest contest of the season between the two schools, the Bulldogs found themselves on the wrong end of a 16-11 loss despite getting five goals from senior midfielder Haley Kern.

UR closed out the 2010 season with a 20-6 loss at home to Adrian College.

For more:   http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/sports/ci_15340919

California College Women’s Lacrosse: Redlands Women’s Lacrosse (10-6) Tournament Against 1st Round Opponent Whittier

When the University of Redlands first started its women’s lacrosse program in 1999, six players with actual lacrosse experience showed up.

Bulldogs' Ashley Finke (left) and Christy Smith at the draw during practice at the University of Redlands' Farquar Fields on Thursday April 29, 2010. Milka Soko / Special to The Press-Enterprise

Coming from the Northeast where the sport is wildly popular, Coach Suzette Soboti knew she had some work to do to grow the program in the Inland Empire.

Twelve years later, the Bulldogs have a roster that spans 10 states and a reputation as a program that continues to grow as the sport grows roots in Southern California.

Redlands, which previously played as a Division III independent, is now part of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s inaugural season, and begins play in the first SCIAC tournament on Saturday at Whittier. Redlands (5-3 in conference, 10-6 overall) is the No. 2 seed and will play the host school at 2:30 p.m.

“Being in a conference elevates the level of play,” Soboti said. “Because you have something to play for, it elevates the level of play for all teams.”

The SCIAC requires five teams to make a sport eligible for a conference championship. Redlands, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Whittier and Pomona-Pitzer had been playing as independents, but when Occidental bumped its program up from club to varsity this year, the conference added women’s lacrosse as a championship sport. Because there are only five teams in the SCIAC, there is no automatic qualifier for the Division III national tournament, but that doesn’t matter to those looking for a place to play in Inland Southern California.

“We’re just getting better each year,” said junior Christy Smith, who came to Redlands from Minnesota and grew up playing hockey. She started playing lacrosse as a sophomore in high school and decided to continue her career on the west coast.

Date	Opponent	Result
2/24	OCCIDENTAL	W, 18-3
2/27	at Dallas	W, 23-3
2/28	vs. Colorado College	L,  15-7
3/12	CARTHAGE	W, 20-5
3/13	SEWANEE	L,  20-12
3/16	FROSTBURG STATE	W, 13-4
3/17	FONTBONNE	W, 10-4
3/19	GOUCHER	L,  15-12
3/20	PUGET SOUND	W, 16-10
3/24	CLAREMONT-MUDD-SCRIPPS	L,  16-5
3/27	POMONA-PITZER	W, 20-14
3/31	WHITTIER	W, 15-7
4/03	at Occidental	W, 21-15
4/14	at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps	L,  16-6
4/20	at Pomona-Pitzer	L,  17-16
4/25	at Whittier	W, 19-11
5/01	at Whittier	2:30	pm
5/04	ADRIAN	4:00	pm

Coach: Suzette Soboti

“After visiting the campus I fell in love with it,” she said, adding she figured the program would eventually get into a conference, but “I didn’t know if I would be here for that or not.”

Smith leads the team with 52 goals and 63 points. Most of the current players have similar lacrosse experience, with the exception of senior Sean Hansen, a biology and psychology major from Bend, Ore., who picked up the game through a one-unit PE class at Redlands.

“I’d never even seen a game when I started playing,” said Hansen, who’s played the past three seasons.

Soboti said the sport is growing in Southern California, with high schools and club teams from Orange County to Santa Barbara getting in on the action. That makes recruiting a little easier and adds to the level of experience of the incoming players.

“We’re a diverse team in how long we’ve been playing and where we’re coming from,” Hansen said. “(But) we’re really focused on the team … We don’t worry about how long we’ve been playing or how long we’ve been in the program.”

Redlands graduated seven players from last year’s team, leaving plenty of questions heading into the inaugural SCIAC season. U of R has had a winning record in eight of its 12 seasons, but the first season as a conference member is different.

“The progress since January is impressive,” Soboti said. “Finishing second the first year in conference, I’m happy with that. Am I satisfied with that? No, but I’m happy with that.”

Top-seeded Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (12-2, 8-0) will play Pomona-Pitzer in the first game Saturday. The tournament final is Sunday at 1 p.m.

http://www.pe.com/sports/college/breakout/stories/PE_Sports_Local_W_redlands_lacrosse_30.480adb8.html