Kelsey Damrad

With a new coach at the helm, the SUNY New Paltz Lacrosse team has begun their spring 2012 campaign with a current 2-1 record. Head Coach Liz Student was hired December of 2011 after previous Head Coach Heather Semelmacher took up the coaching job at the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges. Student inherited a team that went 7-10 overall and 0-8 in conference play in 2011. Student said the team’s biggest disadvantage is their lack of “fall ball.” According to Student, this was especially hard for the players to fix, who went into the season missing out on five weeks of practice time and without knowing her or her coaching style. The team has been forced to adapt to different techniques, such as the grip on their lacrosse sticks, Student said. “It’s very important that the team gets to know each other as well as me,” Student said. “I focus on team chemistry so that the players can get to know each other on another level, as well as have a support system for the field.” […]