March 28, 2024
Wheeling Announces Return of Women’s Lacrosse
Wheeling, W. Va., March 28 – On May 5th, 2019, the Wheeling University Women’s Lacrosse team battled UVA Wise for the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Championship, finishing as runners-up in a 16-14 game. Five years later, the Wheeling University Athletic Department announced the program’s return to campus with Women’s Lacrosse being reinstated as a varsity sport for the 2025 season.
With Women’s Lacrosse returning, the Wheeling University Athletic Department will now be supporting 20 varsity sports programs, continuing to create more opportunities for student-athletes to pursue their passions both on and off the field.
“Wheeling University is excited to increase opportunities for our student-athletes with the Cardinal Women’s Lacrosse program’s re-establishment as an NCAA Division II sport competing in the MEC once again,” said Wheeling University Athletic Director Carrie Hanna.
The Wheeling University Women’s Lacrosse program was formed in 2012 with Tim Florence being named the team’s first head coach. The first team had 15 players, comprised of freshmen and transfer students, as they embarked on their inaugural season. The program’s first win came against Hollins University on March 9th, and they would go 2-10 during that season. They continued to build their pedigree as the years went on, adding to their win total in four of the next five seasons leading up to 2017. This was their breakout year as they finished 10-7 overall, two wins shy of the program record, and made the MEC Tournament for the second time in its history.
In the tournament, the Cardinals opened with a 13-7 win in the first round against West Virginia Wesleyan. It was a big day for former Cardinal Elizabeth Hales, who finished with seven points (three goals, four assists) while putting six of her 10 shots on net. Former Cardinal Mary Burns would also produce a hat trick while going a perfect 6-6 on shots on net. With the win, the Cardinals advanced to the MEC Championship game for the second year in a row and looked to avenge their loss from 2016 when they fell to Shepherd 17-10. Shepherd was once again their opponent, but this time the Cardinals came through with a 14-8 victory to claim the program’s first-ever MEC Championship. Former Cardinal Paige Plesich led the way with four goals in the game, while former Cardinal Lyndsay Carpenter added a hat trick.
The Cardinals will once again be joining the MEC for the 2025 campaign, as the conference continues to grow its membership in Women’s Lacrosse. During the program’s history, the Cardinals made the MEC Tournament four times, playing in the MEC Championship game in three of those four seasons and winning the lone MEC title in 2017. With the program returning for the 2025 season, the Cardinals will look to bring back a winning culture as they battle a new MEC landscape.
Women’s Lacrosse is played between two teams of 12 players, with one of those players serving as the goalie. Like the men’s game, there are four 15-minute quarters, with a 10-minute halftime in between the second and third quarters. The Wheeling University Women’s Lacrosse program will play their home games at Bishop Schmitt Field, which also serves as the host for Football, Men’s & Women’s Soccer, Rugby, and Men’s Lacrosse.