With a win against MAAC foe Iona, the women’s lacrosse team stretched its program record win streak to 10 games.
The Stags’ 10-1 overall record secures a winning season for the team, the team’s first since 2002 and only the third in program history.
After the successful weekend, the Stags moved up to No. 26 in the nation in the InsideLacrosse rankings.
“It’s pretty amazing,” said Head Coach Beth Loffredo. “The girls are playing really well and, now that they know what it’s like to win, it makes it easier for them to imagine winning. They’re just doing a great job executing and doing what they have to do in order to win.”
Last season the Stags finished with a 8-10 overall record and 5-2 in MAAC play. This season they are 3-0 in the conference, which is the league’s best record.
Loffredo said that the difference this season was a combination of including new players and the maturation of returning players.
“It’s probably a combination of things,” said Loffredo. “I can’t really put my finger on it.
“They are enjoying things more and having fun, which is why we all started in the first place.”
One of the key additions this season has been midfielder freshman Kristen Coleman ’11, who leads the team in goals, assists and points.
“She’s very talented and skilled,” said Loffredo. “But she also has the intangibles. She can read the game.
“She’s able to work with all our attackers well. She’s just been able to step in and she’s a very mature player.”
Coleman was also named the MAAC Offensive Player of the Week for the second week in a row. She has won a weekly award in each of the six weeks of the season.
With 57 points, she is only 14 behind the single-season school record, and with her 41 goals, she is six away from her coach’s 47 in a season.
Honestly, I hope she destroys them [Loffredo’s records],” said Loffredo. “She’s a great player.
“It’s very cool that I would be able to coach somebody who broke my records,” he said.
“It’s nice to still be here while it’s happening.”
This season is Loffredo’s first as head coach following her playing career at Fairfield only three seasons ago.
She and Assistant Coach Mike Waldvogel bring varying degrees of experience and knowledge for the players to draw upon.
“It’s been a nice learning experience and we make a good team for the girls and they trust what we have to say,” said Loffredo. “It helps when they believe in us too because we’ve believed in them all along.”
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