The lacrosse team will open the 2020 season on Feb. 8 at home against Radford.

The team will be heading into its first season with head coach Tracy Coyne, who was hired last October. 

“It is important for the team to establish their dynamic together,” said Coyne. “We are still learning about each other.”

Coyne said her team has been working on smaller individual skills, and that they are transitioning to more team-focused drills. 

Senior midfielder Livia Baker is one of the team’s key returnees this season. She scored 28 points on 20 goals and eight assists in 2019.

“The team is very excited to have the new coaches,” said Baker.

Junior midfielder Amanda Heidt, who scored 14 goals last season, agrees. 

“Tracy has brought a new intensity and immense knowledge of the game,” said Heidt. “That has been extremely beneficial for the team.” 

Coyne has coached lacrosse for 29 years. During her 15 years as the head coach at Notre Dame, she turned a club team into a Division I power, leading the Irish to six NCAA tournaments and a Big East Conference Championship in 2006. She also led NDU to its first Final Four appearance that season.

Coyne is currently the seventh winningest lacrosse coach in NCAA history with 287 wins.

Baker said that the team has high expectations and that the players have worked hard for each other in the preseason. She said the group is very focused.

Recently joining the program is assistant coach Amy McNally.

McNally was hired earlier this month. She was a three-year starter at defender for Niagara before graduating from this school in 2019.