ZACH ENGLUND
Sports Assistant
In only its fifth year of existence, the Pepperdine women’s lacrosse team added to its list of achievements on Wednesday, moving their national ranking to 18th in the Top 25 Coaches Poll for U.S. Lacrosse Women’s Division Intercollegiate Associates (WDIA).
With only two regular-season games and two possible play-off games left on the season, the Waves (7-5) have reached groundbreaking heights in multiple areas.
Some of those feats include breaking into the Top 25 for the first time at No. 21 in February, beating every team ranked below them and being within one or two goals of all but two teams ranked ahead of them this season.
“We have the toughest schedule we’ve ever had, so it feels very rewarding,” said Head Coach Paul Ramsey, referring to the teams ‘improved ranking, despite a schedule that has them playing seven top 25 teams. “It’s a tremendous accomplishment for the women on the team, and it’s just a great sign of what this program has to offer.”
The Waves earned their higher rank by beating WCC opponent University of San Diego on Sunday in Malibu. Not only did they win, but they won convincingly, leading 15-3 at halftime en route to a 19-8 victory.
With the young program still a work-in-progress, Ramsey said he could not be happier about the success of the team and the support they have received around campus.
“Campus recreation, professors, and faculty have all been terrific,” he said. “The support we’ve been getting has really been fantastic.”
The Waves are next in action April 6 in a 7 p.m. game at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
03-29-2007
