Southwestern women's lacrosse hit the ground running last season with new head coach Kaitlyn Hafdell, defeating Hendrix 16-7 on opening day. 

In her first season, Hafdell worked on implementing a faster pace. With speedy newcomers like Emma Pertuit and Deanna Hames and all-conference veterans like Grace Maynard and Johnee Wolter, the Pirates put together a 4-3 record in a shortened season—posting the second winning season in program history. 

"Even though the season was short-lived, you could tell they grew as a team. Things were starting to come together," Hafdell says. "Of course, we graduated a few important seniors, but I've gained a freshman class that's young and energetic with a lot of enthusiasm." 

Southwestern doubled down on speed, adding freshmen Raquel Kurth and Liana Collins to a deep and talented mix of midfielders. 

"They're going to excel because they fit in with the transition style of lacrosse we're trying to play," Hafdell says. "Raquel is the type of player who will go all out for 50/50 balls. She's determined to win the possession. And Liana is definitely a big addition to our midfield and draw controls. She does a great job of tracking the ball." 

Draw controls were a strength last season, winning 109 of 192 opportunities to finish 38th in the nation in draw controls per game thanks to the talents of Pertuit. She led the Pirates with 61 draw controls, finishing 10th in Division III in draw controls per game (8.71). 

"Winning the draws is a key component to winning in lacrosse," Hafdell says. "Emma is a big component with the draws she has. But she's also just one person, and teams can start to send help towards her, so it's good we'll have more help." 

Pertuit was dominant in gaining possessions, finishing 27th in the nation in ground balls per game, and spectacular once she had it, tying for the team lead in goals scored with 19 and finishing second in points with 24. 

"I can't wait to see her on the field again. She's even more gung ho than last year," Hafdell said. "She's going to be a big threat this season." 

Hames finished just behind Pertuit, scoring 17 goals with six assists for 19 points, finishing third on the team. She also had a sterling 7-for-8 performance from free position shots. 

"She just has the speed to win one-on-one matchups," Hafdell says. "I know when she has the ball, she's going to make things happen. There's no delay or second-guessing. If she sees a lane, she's going to take it." 

Junior Natasha Perez-Krause also returns in the midfield, providing athleticism and skill on offense and defense. 

"Natasha is going to be that leader for the midfield line," Hafdell says. "Across the board, she's a great player who leads by example. She knows what needs to be done, works hard, and makes plays all over the field."

And after an injury-shortened season, Brooke Folliard returns to the lineup as a key contributor. 

"We have some legs on the teams that can definitely run the ball if need be," Hafdell says. "We understand the ball moves faster than people, so we're learning to let the ball do the work but trust your legs."

Once Southwestern gets into its offense, the Pirates feature a balanced attack heavy on passing and movement exemplified by junior attacker Raven Garcia. Last season, Garcia scored nine goals and nine assists in seven games. As a freshman, she scored 26 goals with 13 assists. 

"Raven knows how to use the crease to her advantage. She's going to have a bigger role now that she's an upperclassman. She's smart, knows when to cut, and makes great feeds," Hafdell says. "Our attackers have speed, off-ball movement, and unselfishness. We don't force anything and do a good job of creating lanes and opportunities for each other." 

Defensively, Southwestern is focusing on getting its speed coordinated through communication.

"We've been working hard as a solid unit. Communication is key. The defense has to be on the same page, or everything falls apart," Hafdell says. "Our goalies Sofia Valdespino and Tessa Lewis complement each other, and we can switch them up to match who we're playing." 

After a year wondering whether they'd get to play this season, Southwestern finds itself ready to face off against Hendrix once again. 

"We're just excited to play. The energy level is really high," Hafdell says. "They put in the work, and they're ready to go."