Women’s Lacrosse Set to Open Season at Home

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Saint Mary (0-0) at Oklahoma Baptist (0-0) Friday, February 19, 7:00 p.m. Shawnee, Okla. (OBU Lacrosse Complex) Game Notes

SHAWNEE – A new season of Oklahoma Baptist women's lacrosse opens up Friday evening at the OBU Lacrosse Complex as the Lady Bison take on the University of Saint Mary at 7 p.m. It is the first all-time meeting between the two programs.
 
For a fourth consecutive year, the Lady Bison will open up the new season at home, and are currently 1-2 in season openers in Shawnee, with the last year's 15-11 victory over Midland University representing the sole win. OBU had one scrimmage under newly-appointed head coach Jordan Beech in late January, falling 12-7 to Hendrix College despite a hat trick by Allison Ingrim and two goals by Paige Morrison.
 
Saint Mary is in its sophomore season under Matt Kimsey. The Spires went 2-5 last season, with their marquee win coming against Benedictine College, 9-8. Leading scorer Jessie Hushaw returns for her second season with the Leavenworth, Kansas, squad, as does Rachel Kozusek who led the team in ground balls in 2015. A young squad, the team features just two juniors and no seniors.
 
GAME NOTES
 
Scouting the Spires
Current Record: 0-0
- The Spires went 2-5 last season in their inaugural season. In their second season, they will play a full schedule as a member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
- An underclassman-heavy roster, Saint Mary features eight sophomores on a roster of 14 players
- USM averaged 4.5 goals per game during the 2015 season. Jessie Hushaw led the way for the Spires with seven goals, averaging just more than one goal per game. She scored a career-high four goals against Missouri Valley College
- Midfielder Rachel Kozusek was USM's top ground ball winner a season ago, scooping up 12 for an average of 2.0 per game
 
The Coaches
Oklahoma Baptist: Jordan Beech
- Jordan Beech took over as the fourth coach in program history in December 2015
- Beech played collegiately for Oklahoma State and the University of Oklahoma in the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association
- Developing the sport from the grassroots levels, helped form the first boys' high school program in Oklahoma in 2006
- Prior to taking over at OBU, Beech made coaching stops at Deer Creek Lacrosse Club and Edmond Lacrosse Club and holds a Level 2 certificate through US Lacrosse
 
 
Saint Mary: Matt Kimsey
- Matt Kimsey was named the first coach in Spires women's lacrosse history in June 2014
- Played collegiately for Kansas State in the MCLA where he served as captain his senior name and was named to the All-Great Rivers Lacrosse Conference First Team
- Named the US Lacrosse Assistant Coach of the Year for the Lacrosse Association of Kansas Schools in 2011
- Had previous coaching stints with Blue Valley West and ESB Lacrosse in the high school and club ranks
 
2016 Preseason Recap
- Oklahoma Baptist fell 12-7 to Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas in the squad's only preseason action of 2016
- Allison Ingrim and Paige Morrison led the way with four points each, with Ingrim recording a hat trick to go along with an assist. Morrison notched two goals and two assists
- The Lady Bison held the edge in ground balls, 35-29, and were led by Savannah Tompkins who tied for a game high with six. Ingrim, Suzie Wisham and Hannah Dowell each had four
- Tompkins and Wisham combined for 10 caused turnovers, equaling the output of the Warriors' entire team. The Lady Bison held a 20-10 advantage in the category
- OBU struggled on free-position shots, going 0-for-8
 
Scouting the Lady Bison
- Oklahoma Baptist returns nine starters from their record-setting 2015 season which saw the squad go 11-4
- National Women's Lacrosse League (NWLL) All-West Region honorable mention honorees Morrison and Ingrim return to lead the midfield. Morrison set single-season school records in points (58) and goals (49). Ingrim recorded 26 goals and seven assists for a total of 33 points. All three totals ranked third on the team
- A three-year starter, Sabrina Attaway returns for one last season in the goal circle. The senior netminder has 206 career saves and a .391 save percentage
- Defensive mainstays Wisham, Jamie Jefferson and Emily Bontekoe return in 2015. The trio combined for 73 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers last year
 
Looking Ahead
- The first-ever game between two NCAA lacrosse opponents in Oklahoma takes place Saturday evening at 6 p.m. as Oklahoma Baptist takes on the Falcons of Montevallo
- Montevallo is in its first season of competition. They have opened the season 1-2, winning against Point University before dropping two straight against Alabama-Huntsville and Reinhardt
- The Falcons are coached by Frank Rodgers, who earned his 100th career win in UM's 12-8 victory over Point to open the season