Lindsay Kibler must be doing something right because from the moment she stepped foot on campus, she sparked a winning culture with the Linfield lacrosse program.
 
In 2019, Kibler's first season as head coach of the Wildcats, she snapped a streak of 11 straight losing seasons. Linfield went 11-5 that year with a 10-2 record in Northwest Conference play. The 'Cats were off to a solid 2-1 start in 2020 before the season was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In yet another shortened season in 2021, they went 7-3 and outscored their opponents 139-100.
 
"We're looking forward to this spring and having a full season after having a brief season last year and a canceled season the year before," said Kibler as she enters her fourth season at the helm. "It's exciting to embark on the season with this crew and have our seniors finish their careers with a full season."
 
UPPERCLASSMEN LEADERSHIP
Picked third in the 2022 NWC Lacrosse Preseason Poll, the Wildcats return five All-NWC selections from their 2021 squad, including the NWC Player of the Year in Bethany Shade. Shade led the team last season with 34 goals, 19 assists and 53 points. She also earned First Team All-West Region honors from the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA).
 
Shade leads a strong senior class that includes fellow First Team All-NWC selection Gemmajean Patterson and second-teamers Maia Rezoski and Josie Duey. Junior Elena Kroll also returns after earning a second-team nod a year ago.
 
"They're the first class that I've had for all four years," Kibler said of her senior standouts. "I'm excited to see them take what we've been learning and working on the past four years and put that all together on the field. They've done a good job of stepping up and being those leaders. They're working on leaving their legacy."
 
The 'Cats enter the season with 18 players thanks to an incoming class of seven freshmen. Once the oldest on their respective high school teams, those freshmen are back to being the newcomers. While the underclassmen are adjusting to a new culture, new teammates and new offensive and defensive schemes, the leaders have stepped up and made them feel confident enough to take initiative on the field.
 
"We have such strong leaders on the team," Kibler said. "They've done a great job of throwing their arm around a freshman and welcoming them to the collegiate style of play, which is a lot faster and a little more aggressive."
 
UNDERCLASSMEN TO FOLLOW
If you ask Kibler, the freshman class has talent all across the board. Some key starters on attack are Maya Wright and Amelia Wright. Maya notched five goals and dished out two assists in Linfield's scrimmage with NAIA Eastern Oregon on Feb. 20 while Amelia scored twice. Another key member on attack is sophomore Abby Ross, who returns after a yearlong break from the team. 
 
"That's the most exciting part because who should you not keep your eyes on?" Kibler said. "Everyone on this team is a big player and huge contributor. It's exciting to watch everyone get in there."
 
GOALKEEPER DUO
With Epi Roldan-Rayo leaving the program due to graduation in 2021, the 'Cats turn to sophomore Lizzy Harms and freshman Caity Babcock to platoon in goal.
 
With the introduction of quarters instead of halves this season, the two have rotated every quarter. Kibler said it seemed to work for them in the team's two preseason scrimmages against Corban and Eastern Oregon. Neither is staying out on the field for too long and both are seeing a lot of action.
 
"It'll look different game to game depending on how practice goes and how they're competing," Kibler said. "Right now, our plan is to have them switch out every quarter, and we'll see how that goes."
 
SEASON GOALS
With the season waiting in the wings, the large roster has brought challenges but also positivity and optimism. The best part of having more players is utilizing more weapons off the bench. With two scrimmages under their belt, the 'Cats are starting to become that well-oiled machine that they've been in recent years.
 
"Our No. 1 goal is to end up first in the conference," Kibler said. "That's really where our eyes are set. Overall, as long as we play "Cat Lax" and do our best every day, I feel confident about the season. We're just trying to push the pace on attack and put the pedal to the metal. No brakes, all gas."
 
NEXT
The 'Cats open their season with four straight home matches, starting with Puget Sound at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Linfield Lacrosse and Soccer Complex.