Aug 16, 2006

Westfield State Adds Women's Lacrosse As Varsity Sport

Westfield State College announces today the addition of women?s lacrosse as an intercollegiate varsity sport for the 2007 spring semester.

?We are pleased and excited to be adding women?s lacrosse as an intercollegiate sport in 2007,? said Westfield State director of athletics Richard Lenfest. ?We are appreciative of the administration?s commitment in supporting our athletics programs and facilities. Adding women?s lacrosse will enhance participation opportunities and allow our athletics department to continue to meet the needs of the students.?

Westfield State, which had a women?s lacrosse club program for the past three years, now fields 18 intercollegiate teams with the addition of women?s lacrosse. The team will play an independent schedule during its inaugural varsity season, and in 2008 the Owls will become members of the New England Women?s Lacrosse Alliance (NEWLA).

?The addition of the women?s lacrosse team will enhance our intercollegiate programs and strengthen our commitment to gender equity,? said Dr. Arthur Jackson, Westfield State College vice president of student affairs. ?Women?s lacrosse is one of the fastest growing sports in the Northeast, and we look forward to our participation in NEWLA in 2008.?

The NEWLA will consist of 10 teams in 2008, including Westfield?s rivals in the Massachusetts State College Athletics Conference: Bridgewater State, Fitchburg State, and Worcester State. Other NEWLA members are: Castleton State, Elms, Emerson, Lasell, Norwich, and Thomas College of Maine.

Western New England College, a member of the NEWLA since 1999, will depart the NEWLA after the 2007 season and begin play in the Commonwealth Coast Conference as a full member in 2008.

Janna Cunningham Named Lacrosse Coach

Westfield State College announces the hiring of Janna Cunningham as its first head coach of women?s lacrosse.

Cunningham was the head lacrosse coach at Nichols College for three years, and an assistant coach/assistant athletics director for a year.

She was a graduate assistant lacrosse coach for two years at Springfield College. She played three years of lacrosse at Elmira College in New York. She also played four years of basketball at Elmira and participated in two NCAA Tournaments.

In addition to her women?s lacrosse coaching duties, Cunningham is employed full-time at Westfield State as the athletics facilities manager.

?We are extremely fortunate to have Janna as our first women?s lacrosse coach,? said Westfield State athletics director Richard Lenfest. ?As the athletics facilities manager and coach she brings experience, energy, and enthusiasm to our athletics department.?