The Fairfield University women’s lacrosse team is finally returning to action on Saturday, March 6. The 2021 season starts on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium with a conference match against the Quinnipiac University Bobcats. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, last year’s season was cut short in March, leaving the team hungry for a comeback. The team unveiled its 12-game regular season slate back in January, which includes 12 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference contests this spring. The Stags will be challenging all eight MAAC rivals at least once, with multiple two-game series rounding out the regular season.
Head coach of the women’s lacrosse team, Laura Field, discussed the team’s experiences with COVID-19 and plans for the upcoming season.
“We’re trying to prepare them safely, I think that’s the biggest thing, to make sure that even though it’s a shortened time frame, that we do it the right way and we make sure that the focus is on really sustaining this season,” Field said.
Due to COVID-19, the Stags are practicing in small groups and are eager for the seniors to be cleared to come back on campus. Coach Field and the team work through setbacks while continuing to put the hard work in everyday.
“As athletes, as coaches, you’re used to a level of adversity, whether its injuries or travel issues, things are out of our control. Obviously COVID-19 presents different challenges, but we are on board and we understand. It’s a challenge, but it is actually something we are comfortable with,” remarked Field.
Field assumed the role of head coach of Fairfield women’s lacrosse in 2015 and begins her sixth season as head coach, and thirteenth overall with the Stags. She has led Fairfield to a 49-26 overall record and a 25-7 tally in the conference, which ranks her second all-time in wins in program history. Field and her team secured their fifth MAAC Championship in 2019, a goal they are hoping to achieve again this year.
“The team’s goal and everybody’s goal is to win the MAAC Championship,” Field said. “We didn’t get a chance last year to defend our title, we want to do that. Our larger goal is to advance in the NCAA [National Collegiate Athletic Association] tournament. All the work that our seniors and our team have put into their careers is exactly motivated by that.”
The strength of the team, Field insists, is in the athletes.
“What helps me feel a little better about going into a shortened preseason is that I am confident that we will be able to gel and hit the ground running as soon as we are allowed to have full-contact practices,” Field shared. “Knowing that we have a good foundation and their ability to bring others into the fold is really important to any team you are trying to put together.”
Field added, “We are very excited to have the privilege to play this season. We know how hard it is and I want to give thanks to everyone behind the scenes, from Paul Schlickmann, director of athletics, to Zach Dayton, deputy director of athletics and Drew Kingsley, associate director of athletics/communications and content strategy. We have seen how hard it is to execute a season when you are trying to have an eye on everyone’s safety, from the staff to the larger Fairfield community. We are very thankful that they are willing to go to bat for all of us and work that hard.”
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