By Scott Kaesshaefer

Although each of Loyola University’s 18 varsity teams participate at the Division 1 level, with 16 competing in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), the mid-major school's athletics rarely receives the national spotlight it deserves. However, as each spring semester approaches, it becomes impossible to ignore the small liberal arts school in Baltimore. The men and women’s lacrosse programs have been recognized as two of the most prolific lacrosse programs in the country year-in and year-out. The men’s team, which has played since 1938, has racked up over 400 Division 1 wins and has appeared in the NCAA tournament on numerous occasions. However, it is the rich tradition and history of the women’s lacrosse program that exceeds all others not only at Loyola, but in the entire northeast. After last season, the program is currently fifth all-time among Division 1 women’s lacrosse teams with 363 wins, a number that players and coaches hope to add to in the 2010 season.

In 2009, the women’s lacrosse team had yet another successful season, ending the year with a winning record of 10-6. The team plays in the highly competitive Big East Conference, which includes powerhouses Notre Dame, Georgetown, and Syracuse. Cincinnati, Louisville, Rutgers, Connecticut, and newly added Villanova make up the rest of the conference.

Junior midfielder Kelly Quinlan has competed against some of the best programs in the nation, and noted several key victories last season. “We had huge wins against Georgetown, Towson, James Madison, and Cornell,” she said. “With schools like Louisville and Rutgers becoming stronger and stronger, our conference is going to be tough.” The difficult schedule, however, proves to be a direct result of the success the Loyola program has achieved. As the team continues to make a name for itself, its competition will continue to get tougher each season, which is just fine with junior co-captain Abby Rehfuss. “The better you get, the more challenges you’ll see along the way,” she admitted. “But this is a good thing. Playing against the best only makes you stronger as a team.” She added that expectations for this season are high, hoping to get back to the Big East tournament and eventually make it to the NCAA national tournament in April at nearby Towson.

If the team has any hope of playing for the national title down the street, it will have to lean heavily on junior attack/midfielder Grace Gavin, the team’s leading goal scorer in 2009. The unanimous All-Big East First team selection tallied 74 total points, scoring 56 goals and adding 23 assists. Gavin scored her 100th career point against Notre Dame in just her 26th career game, becoming the second-fastest to 100 in school history. Currently, with still two full seasons to play, Gavin already has a place in Loyola's top 25 all-time in career points (22nd, 126), goals (T-21st, 94), assists (T-21st, 32), draw controls (20th, 75), and caused turnovers (19th, 32).

Quinlan revealed that in addition to the return of Gavin, the team hopes to get major contributions from Helen McCutcheon, a junior transfer from Maryland, as well as Cassie Cursaro, a freshman from Australia. “Cassie plays on the Australian National Team,” Quinlan noted. “So the team is looking to expect some big things from her right away.”

Refhuss added that with several key additions to a team that has already proven itself to be a winner, there should be no shortage of wins for the Loyola Women’s Lacrosse team. “We have a chant after every win,” she said. “Ain’t no dog like an LC dog! Woof! Woof!”

There’s a good chance Rehfuss and her teammates will be very hoarse come May.