Women hope to make mark before departing conference

Photo courtesy of UDM SPORTS INFO

BY SOPHIE TORCELLO / VN STAFF WRITER

Preparations for the upcoming women’s lacrosse season are underway at Detroit Mercy, with the team opening next week, Feb. 7, at Northwestern in Evanston, Illinois.

“We just finished our first week of practice and we’ve started and ended really strong,” coach Megan Callahan said. “The girls are excited, we look good and we’re just ready to go.”

Last year, the Titans earned the second-seed position in the Southern Conference tournament but fell short of a championship appearance after a tough battle against Furman in the semi-finals.

Callahan feels confident her team will come back stronger than ever for their last season in the Southern Conference. (The Titans are moving to the Mid-American Conference next year.)

The team will see the return of many familiar faces as well as the introduction of newcomers. It will be an even mix of both upper- and lower-class women.

For Canadian native Tegan McManus, this will be her final season playing for the Titans.

“I’m looking forward to travelling with my team,” she said. “This is our last year in the Southern Conference and I think it is an important year for us because we want to show everyone that we are a force to be reckoned with before coming into the MAC,” she said.

Sophomore Taryn McManus, Tegan’s younger sister, is also excited for the upcoming season.

“We are looking to go out with a bang this year and hopefully win the championship,” she said.

She expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to share part of her college career playing alongside her sister.

“Tegan is my home away from home and although she is graduating this year I am so lucky to have received the opportunity to play and follow in her footsteps at Detroit Mercy,” she said.

The Titans’ first match will be against Northwestern University, which is ranked number four in the nation.

Coach Callahan believes this contest will be a great opportunity to test the game plan that the team has been working hard on over the last semester.

“We will be focusing on our fundamentals and executing our game plan to see what needs to be worked out before we go into our next game,” she said.