WLAX Embraces Challenge, Opportunity During First B1G Season
Apr 27 | Women's Lacrosse
By Frank Kineavy
ScarletKnights.com
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- One of the biggest benefits to Rutgers' first season of Big Ten Conference play in women's lacrosse is that it confirmed two opinions that head coach Laura Brand-Sias had coming into the newly-formed league.
One is that it's the best women's lacrosse conference in the country. Brand-Sias suspected that would be the case, given the history of the six programs that comprise the league. After a full regular season through it -- the Scarlet Knights closed out the regular season Sundaywith their first Big Ten win at Michigan -- she's more certain of that than ever.
The other is that she has found that being part of the Big Ten offers the unique opportunity to raise the Scarlet Knights' program to new heights. That day, the 14-year coach is convinced, is coming.
"It means a great deal not only for our immediate exposure and advancement, but for the long term growth of our program," Brand-Sias said of the program's Big Ten membership. "Between the success of its programs, academic success, and exposure through Big Ten Network, the Big Ten is the premier league for women's lacrosse."
Rutgers has already made three appearances on the Big Ten Network, providing unprecedented exposure for the program.
The added bonus comes shortly; the first Big Ten Women's Lacrosse Tournament will be held at High Point Solutions Stadiumfrom April 30- May 3, when the sport's attention will be focused for good reason. Big Ten teams have accounted for 19 of the 32 national championships in the sport, including eight of the past nine years.
This is the sport at its highest level.
"When we were in the Big East we played tough competition and a few times we were able to schedule teams from the top 10," junior defender Taylor Pennell said. "Those games are a few of my favorite games and memories, regardless of their outcomes. However, now playing in the Big Ten I live those favorite moments and games so much more frequently because of the established standard of relentless competition."
Ever since Rutgers announced its move to the Big Ten, Brand-Sias has orchestrated a transition centered around recruiting and changing the culture of the program.
"We have really focused on starting from the ground up and working to re-write the focus of our program and our ideals and standards," she said. "We have always had a strong base but I felt there was a need to re-define our focus and really work with our athletes to understand what is expected of them at this level."
Hosting the inaugural Big Ten Women's Lacrosse Tournament is a significant boost to the profile of the program.
"No one can deny the impact of hosting the first Big Ten championship," said Brand-Sias. "Our goal is to compete for a championship on our home turf. Outside of that, the exposure will help our recruiting efforts immensely. It will also show the community what we have to offer to them as fans and supporters."
Pennell said Rutgers benefits just by being associated with -- and competing against -- some of the nation's premier programs on a yearly basis. The Scarlet Knight youth will certainly benefit from the level of competition, as Rutgers boasted the third-toughest schedule in the nation based on opponent winning percentage during the regular season.
"Winning in general is an unbelievable feeling, now add the Big Ten label, the opportunity to host it, the possibility of upsetting current or previous national champions, friends and family being able to watch us as our best selves in the moment ... there aren't words to describe that," she said.
In the building of any program, some elements are out of the coach's hands. Respect and synergy between the players is a must to have success, and at Rutgers, the respect teammates have for each other is palpable.
"The atmosphere of having 30 sisters is a common feeling in Division I women's athletics, but Rutgers enhances that experience because we love being sisters and there isn't anyone else in this world I would choose to `go to battle with,' " Pennell said of her teammates. "A sisterhood goes beyond the label of a teammate or a best friend. It is all-encompassing of those roles and it is truly unique.
"We make each other better and challenge one another every day because we want that for each other. We are not the team to clique off into groups or by grades. We are one team all the time."
Soon she expects it to be a team on the rise in the nation's most daunting women's lacrosse conference.
Follow Rutgers Athletics onFacebookandTwitterfor all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers women's lacrosse, follow the programFacebook, and onTwitterand Instagram @RULaxBrand. Fans can receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on both social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.
