Coaching staff changes for women’s lacrosse team

Diego Himede, Staff writer

The Mercyhurst women’s lacrosse team is experiencing major changes upon the start of their season with the coaching staff.

Head Coach Cecil Pilson, after 11 seasons as coach, resigned to become the new head coach of the Butler University Women’s Lacrosse Team, which is a Division I school. Jen Thomas, the former defensive coordinator, also left the team around the same time to take a head coaching position at Western Connecticut College.

This turn of events could have shaken the entire team’s philosophy and motivation. However, it appears that a new team has emerged with new goals just in time for important upcoming games.

“It was really shocking for us since it happened in the middle of the season. However, we all came together, we’ve been working really hard and we know will be okay,” senior midfielder Kyla Keefe said. Keefe added that the team remains confident knowing that they will make it to the NCAA championship this year.

The head coach position was quickly taken by former graduate assistant, Brigid Hurley, who has been working with the team for two years.

“I’ve done a lot of coaching before, I have a great relationship with the girls on the team, so it honestly made us stronger,” Hurley said. Hurley wrapped up the start of the season with one sentence, “with big change, comes big opportunities.”

Senior midfielder Katrina Campbell supports Coach Hurley and her job as coach.

“She was a great graduate assistant. She has experience, she used to be a great player in college and we are really excited about her taking over,” Campbell said.

The chemistry and enthusiasm has never been more intense. In fact, the Lakers created a hashtag, #ClimbToDenver, to motivate themselves to obtain a goal they have been trying to achieve for a while now: get to the NCAA championship.

Although the coaching changes were unexpected to the team, they all wish Pilson the best on his new journey, knowing that he will do an excellent job, as he did here.

Pilson left an important legacy at Mercyhurst as he had the most wins in Mercyhurst women’s lacrosse history. However, the girls are ready for the new challenges knowing they have what it takes to overcome anything.

The team plays their first game on Feb. 20, against Saint Thomas Aquinas College.