Club sport turned varsity for 2023 season

It’s official: CSB Athletics is adding a new sport to its varsity athletics program. CSB women’s lacrosse will be coming to play in the spring of 2023. Lacrosse joins 11 other Bennie sports offered by CSB athletics.

“Adding a new varsity sports program is incredibly exciting. Like many athletic departments, we are constantly evaluating our sport program offerings,” Athletic Director Kelly Anderson-Diercks said.

The CSB lacrosse team, which has been a club sport up until the establishment of a varsity team, becomes the fourth NCAA Division III lacrosse team in Minnesota. As the sport grows in popularity, there may be an increase in number of lacrosse teams popping up, quite possibly in the MIAC.

“Adding a new varsity sports team is an important step forward in our vision of being a premier women’s athletic department,” Anderson-Diercks said, “It demonstrates that we are tracking growth of opportunities in girls’ and women’s sports and responding to those trends when they align with our values as an institution,”

As a club sport in the 2020-21 school year, the lacrosse team played four teams: Bethel, St Thomas, Iowa State and Gustavus. However, with the addition of a varsity team, lacrosse players will be playing other teams from surrounding states in the NCAA DIII tournament.

“It’s a great opportunity to grow the game in the Midwest and for women athletics,” lacrosse player and CSB sophomore Clair Moonen said.

The CSB athletic department is starting its search for a varsity lacrosse coach soon.

“I want someone with a strong work ethic, someone who is adaptable and resilient, someone who aligns with our values and someone who’s going to come in and push everyone in the department to do better, not just the lacrosse program,” Anderson-Diercks said.

As for current club players, many are excited to take on the new role as a varsity athlete.

“Depending on my schedule next year I do intend on playing… but for now we just are grateful so many girls want to get out on the turf and play,” Moonen said.

Moonen also shared how she thinks practices may change.

The team practices once a week during the off season and twice while in season. Players are looking forward to more structured and intense practices, according to Moonen.

Along with the practice changes, members of the varsity lacrosse team will be required to adhere to NCAA Division III rules.

“This would mean there would be different playing season rules than a club team, which essentially tell [athletes] when they are, and are not, permitted to be doing athletically related activities with the coaching staff and athletic department,” Anderson-Diercks said.

The team’s home turf will be located at the Sister Lois Athletic Center. Anderson-Diercks emphasized how the athletic center is ready for the lacrosse team.

The recognizable lined turf field at the Outdoor Athletic Complex and the Sister Lois Athletic Center provides the players with the proper infrastructure a new team needs, according to Anderson-Dierks.

The CSB athletic department and Anderson-Diercks are ready to welcome new and returning lacrosse athletes in the next year.

“The women on the new varsity lacrosse team are going to receive an outstanding education, play in a beautiful facility and have a high-quality student-athlete experience,” Anderson-Diercks said.