ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – As the days count down toward the season's start, an excitement level is building for the College of Saint Benedict Lacrosse team.

The Bennie program will begin its inaugural campaign by playing at Wisconsin-River Falls on Monday, March 20 at 7 p.m.

"The excitement is high. It has been a long build up. We are starting later than some other teams but that is ok. We are eager to get on the field to see what it is like and show what we can do," said first-year CSB Head Coach Patrick Crandall, who took over the program on Dec. 27, 2021, after serving as one of the top high school and club lacrosse coaches in Minnesota.

In early December of 2021, the Bennies were accepted for membership into the Midwest Women's Lacrosse Conference (MWLC) where they became the eighth league member joining Minnesota schools Augsburg, Hamline and Northwestern, Iowa schools Cornell and Wartburg, and Illinois schools Lake Forest and Monmouth. The MWLC was formed in 2010 and began play in the spring of 2011.

As the season starts in less than a week, the Bennies, who open at home against Lake Forest College at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12, will look to compete with every opponent with a young but excited squad.  

"For the inaugural season the goal is to come and compete every game. We are not looking at wins or losses but looking to improve every game" said Crandall, who served as the head girls lacrosse coach at Lakeville South High School from 2011-2022, where he led the team to one Minnesota state championship title, two Minnesota state runner-up finishes and two Minnesota state consolation championships. In 2015, Crandall was selected as the Minnesota Coaches Association Coach of the Year. He has coached two Ms. Lacrosse Minnesota honorees as well as numerous student-athletes that have gone on to compete at the NCAA Division I, II and III levels.  

"We are trying to lay groundwork for what is to come. We are looking to build from the ground floor up," he said.

In terms of players to watch goalie Chloe Lewis has the ability to play a pivotal role. In addition, attack and captain Emma Schrepfer along with defender Sami Hackley and midfielder Ella Steinke will also be key contributors as they work with several young student-athletes.



"It occurs to me that as a first-year program, we are excited about the opportunity to show what we can do. We hope people will come out and support the program as it is one of the most exciting sports around," said Crandall. "Once people embrace this game, they will love it. It is a dynamic game with a lot of skilled athletes," he said.

As the season opened, the Bennies were picked to finish seventh in the Midwest Women's Lacrosse Conference, according to a poll released by the league office.
 
Lake Forest College has been selected to win the 2023 Midwest Women's Lacrosse Conference (MWLC) championship according to the preseason poll, voted on by the league's head coaches. The Foresters received seven first-place votes and 49 total points in the preseason poll. Lake Forest won the regular season title last season.  Hamline was picked to finish second with 39 points and earned one first-place vote. The Pipers have won the past five conference tournament championships, which is a league record. Northwestern was third in the poll with 36 points, Cornell was fourth with 34 points, Wartburg was fifth with 24 points, Augsburg was sixth with 23 points, Saint Benedict was seventh with 13 points, and Monmouth rounded out the poll with 10 points.