LINFIELD UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S LACROSSE VERSUS GEORGE FOX • MARCH 4, 2023

WELCOME TO LINFIELD UNIVERSITY

TODAY’S MATCHUP: GEORGE FOX AT LINFIELD

game operations | event staff

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

Dr. Garry Killgore

EVENT MANAGER

Doug Hire

COMMUNICATIONS

Kaho Akau, Logan Clizer

STATISTICS

Emily Hyde, Jordan Worthington

PUBLIC ADDRESS, SCOREBOARD

Jasmine Williams

TIMER

Kira Hawaaboo

FIELD MONITOR

Grant Jackson

VIDEO WEBCASTS

Joe Stuart, Johnny Miller, Joel Nelson

GAME PROGRAM

Kelly Bird, Felip Unker, Kaho Akau, Nathan Herde

SAVANNAH IRWIN

SEASON OUTLOOK

everyone has a voice

New coach Sarah Dalsey embraces the existing familyoriented environment built upon trust and respect

by kaho akau ’19

Anew era of Linfield lacrosse has begun under Sarah Dalsey, the ninth head coach in the program’s 26-year history.

The first-year head coach arrived on campus in the fall with a winning attitude and collegiate coaching experience at McDaniel College in Maryland and Adrian College in Michigan. While moving across the country is never an easy task, the Linfield community and the women of the lacrosse program welcomed Dalsey with open arms.

“My journey to McMinnville has been great,” Dalsey said. “I’m grateful to have support from the community here, making the move seamless. Coaching changes can be hard on a team, but the players welcomed me immediately and were excited to get to work.”

Linfield finished third in the Northwest Conference standings in 2022, going 12-5 overall with an 8-4 record in league play. The Wildcats will need to replace four All-NWC players from a year ago, including midfielder Bethany Shade, a Second Team All-West Region honoree and the 2022 NWC Defensive Player of the Year.

The good thing is, one of those players is still leaving her mark on the program as Maia Rezoski returns as an assistant coach this spring. The four-year letterwinner and three-time all-conference selection ranks fourth on Linfield’s all-time list in points and assists.

THE NEW-LOOK WILDCATS

Building team culture is a journey, and the ‘Cats are quickly discovering the team’s identity in the early spring.While Dalsey brought her own coaching style to McMinnville, she understood that the program and its returning student-athletes already had a sense of community. Her job was to create a new culture that adopted the values already in place.

“When I accepted this position, it was important for me to make sure I reached out to the players to ask the important questions,” Dalsey said. “Trust and respect mean a lot. I wanted them to know I was here to improve the program but not change or remove any traditions.”

Linfield lacrosse, otherwise known as “Cat Lax,” has brought a family-oriented environment to the pitch. The players push each other at practice and have been so competitive at times that emotions get high. But they’ve learned to come together and channel those emotions positively.

“They show every day that they want to get better, and they know they have support if they make mistakes.”

VETERAN LEADERSHIP

The ‘Cats have 17 players on the roster. Only two are seniors. The rest are underclassmen, including 10 freshmen.

“It’s crazy to think we only have two upperclassmen. Honestly, I forget because we don’t lack leadership.”

Elena Kroll and Maranda Tucker are in the midst of their senior campaigns. A two-sport athlete, Kroll had a successful winter season on the wrestling mat in Linfield’s inaugural NCAA season. As the tail end of wrestling season overlapped with the beginning of lacrosse season, she managed to balance both sports and worked hard to make it to all her practices and workouts.

“Elena is one of our captains this year. She does a great job of holding our team accountable and making sure the standard is set. She’s someone to look up to.”

The lone returning All-NWC member, Tucker earned a Second Team nod at defender in 2022. She started in all 17 games, finishing with 13 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers.

“Murray [Maranda] has taken on roles that have pushed her outside her comfort zone, but she’s done it with a smile on her face. She steps up in a big way for someone who works in silence. She leads by example.”

THE UP-AND-COMERS

Having a young team comes with its own hurdles, but it also allows the underclassmen to gain collegiate playing experience and find opportunities to step up. Everyone has a role, and not one is more important than the other.

“I tell them every day that they have a voice and to use it. I also credit our team culture for allowing a space for everyone to step into a role.”

Two sophomores, Maya Wright and Mackenzie Kulick, join Kroll as team captains this season. Wright started in all 17 games on attack in 2022, scoring 29 goals and dishing out 15 assists in her debut season. She fired off 90 shots, 60 landing

28 maizri chandler

SEASON OUTLOOK

on goal. Kulick was sidelined last year due to injury.

“They do a great job of leading by example. They come to practice ready to work. I can’t recall a time when they didn’t bring the energy.”

The ‘Cats have multiple newcomers who can make an impact early in their careers. Key freshmen to look out for are Gabby Crist and Grayce Miller. Crist was recruited out of Lake Oswego High School as a low defender but has shown promise in the midfield. A San Diego, California, native, Miller will help to anchor the defensive end.

“Gabby will be a force on the field. She’s the definition of competitive, and her love for the game shows. Grayce has a high IQ and great leadership skills out on the field.”

PROTECTING THE HOUSE

Sophomore Caity Babcock and freshman Tenley Hodge will share time in goal for the ‘Cats. Babcock played in three games last year, starting in two, before missing the remainder of the season due to injury. She recorded 12 saves and finished with a .400 save percentage. Hodge joined the program from Beaverton’s Westview High School.

It’s not easy to play a position where only one player can be on the field at a time, but the two goalkeepers have created a bond and want each other to succeed. Their encouragement and always-improving communication skills have been noticed by the coaching staff.

“My goalies are the best. The growth I’ve seen in both are impressive. They put in the extra work and it shows.”

GOALS FOR THE SEASON

Every week presents a new challenge. The 2023 season will be focused on growth to put the future of Linfield lacrosse in good hands. The team will celebrate all the small victories that contribute to the bigger picture.

20 grayce miller

THANK YOU CORPORATE PARTNERS

SARAH DALSEY HEAD COACH

Sarah Dalsey is in her first year as women’s lacrosse coach at Linfield. Prior to arrioving at Linfield, Dalsey worked for one year at NCSA Sports, connecting prospective students and families with collegiate athletic programs that fit their interests and needs. In 2020, she worked at Pro-Fit in West Berlin, New Jersey, managing administrative and financial workflows.

Dalsey’s administrative experience also includes internships at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland, where she assisted the director of athletics with a variety of essential tasks, and at Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York, where she served one year in the athletics communications office.

Her coaching resume features three years as an assistant women’s lacrosse coach at McDaniel and two years assisting at Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan. In addition, Dalsey was head coach of the Nike Girls Lacrosse Camp at McDaniel College and Pace University,

and led club travel teams in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.

Dalsey completed a bachelor’s degree in Sports Studies and Communications/Media Studies at Manhattanville College. She went on to earn a master’s degree in kinesiology from McDaniel while serving as a graduate assistant coach.

MAIA REZOSKI ASSISTANT COACH

Maia Rezoski joins the coaching staff this spring after an decorated playing career at Linfield.

A three-time Northwest Conference allstar and four-year letter winner, she wrapped up her playing career ranking fourth on Linfield’s all-time points and assists lists.

A graduate of Mount Si High School in Washington state, Rezoski lettered three times in lacrosse while serving as team captain and leading her team in draw controls and assists.

She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology in May 2022.

GAME DAY PREVIEW

THE RECORDS

Linfield enters the week still looking for its first win of the season. The Wildcats are 0-3 overall and 0-2 in Northwest Conference play. George Fox is off to a 2-0 start to the NWC schedule.

LINFIELD AT A GLANCE

The Wildcats opened the week with a 15-10 loss to Alma (Mich.) on Tuesday. Gabby Crist scored seven goals against the Scots, tied for No. 8 in the program’s single-game record book. Crist leads the team with nine goals, 20 shots and 17 shots on goal. Maizri Chandler has five goals and two assists. Grayce Miller’s 15 ground balls and eight caused turnovers have anchored the Wildcat defense. Caity Babcock has 20 saves and a .455 save percentage in three appearances and one start.

GEORGE FOX AT A GLANCE

The Bruins outscored their opponents, 41-10, in the opening week of NWC play. They completed a 21-2 rout of Puget Sound before beating Willamette on the road, 20-8. Ava Bluhm leads the attack with 10 goals while Kyra Barnes has nine. Marena Tharpe has notched five goals and four assists while leading the team with seven ground balls and 12 draw controls. Emma Webb is 2-0 in goal with 11 saves, a .524 save percentage and a 5.00 goals against average.

THE SERIES

George Fox won all 16 meetings with Linfield. The Wildcats are averaging five goals per game in the all-time series. The Bruins swept the season series in 2022, winning 20-10 in McMinnville and 19-6 in Newberg.

99 tenley hodge

MEET THE WILDCATS

savannah irwin | 6 5-7 | Freshman | Offense Bend, Oregon

hope mccomish | 13 5-3 | Freshman | Defense Beaverton, Oregon

brooke hatch | 5 5-6 | Freshman | Defense Beaverton, Oregon

joelle fineman | 15 5-7 | Freshman | Offense San Diego, California

erynn mccurdy | 21 5-1 | Freshman | Offense Eagle Mountain, Utah

maranda tucker | 18

5-7 | Senior | Defense Corvallis, Oregon

grayce miller | 20 5-1 | Freshman | Defense San Diego, California

mackenzie kulick | 25 5-5 | Sophomore | Defense The Woodlands, Texas

gracie pratt | 27

5-3 | Freshman | Defense Carbondale, Colorado

gabby crist | 7 5-5 | Freshman | Defense Lake Oswego, Oregon

elena kroll | 19 5-2 | Senior | Defense Hood River, Oregon

kelsey reinemer | 22 5-8 | Sophomore | Defense Redmond, Oregon

maizri chandler | 28

5-8 | Freshman | Midfield Scappoose, Oregon

caity babcock | 75 5-5 | Sophomore | Goalkeeper Salinas, California

tenley hodge | 99 5-8 | Freshman | Goalkeeper Beaverton, Oregon

MAYA WRIGHT | 2

5-3 | Sophomore | Midfield West Linn, Oregon

LINFIELD SPORTS NETWORK

The Linfield Sports Network will again bring fans live action of all home Linfield lacrosse matches during the 2023 season. Fans can enjoy live video webcasts with play-by-play commentary on their computer, tablet, mobile device or smart TV.

Live coverage begins 10 minutes prior to the start of each contest. Broadcasts include a complete postgame wrap-up with analysis and statistical breakdown.

McMinnville native Joe Stuart, a 2020 Linfield graduate, is the Athletics Broadcast Operations Coordinator, managing all aspects of Linfield’s webcasting outreach and handling lead play-by-play duties on Linfield football, baseball and softball webcasts in addition to basketball. Stuart also assists with other external sports communications and social media needs.

Linfield freshman Johnny Miller will handle play-by-play duties on Linfield lacrosse broadcasts this spring. Miller is a graduate of Jesuit High School in Portland and a member of the Linfield football team. He made his broadcast debut recently, calling play-byplay for Linfield baseball games.

All LSN broadcasts, both live and on demand, can be accessed at golinfieldwildcats.com/watch or from within the Linfield Athletics app on mobile, tablet or smart TVs.

LINFIELD WILDCATS

HEAD COACH: Sarah Dalsey (first year)

ASSISTANT COACH: Maia Rezoski

GEORGE FOX BRUINS

HEAD COACH: Katie Brand (sixth year)

ASSISTANT COACHES: Jen Preap, Emma Fanger, Jenna Morris