CMC75 Moments: 2007 Women's Lacrosse Earns Program's First NCAA Bid
As part of the buildup to the 75th Anniversary celebration for Claremont McKenna College (visit CMC's 75th Anniversary Countdown Page to learn more), we are reliving many of the great moments from CMS athletic department history over the 75-day countdown from April 17 to July 1. If you were a part of this great moment and would like to add to the memories, or if you would like to submit your memories of your own favorite CMS Athletics moments, fill out the form on our main 75th Anniversary page.
Great Moments from 75 Years of Athletics
2007 Women's Lacrosse: Athenas Start 15-0, Earn First NCAA Bid
The CMS Women's Lacrosse program had its first varsity season in 2003 and quickly established itself as a strong program with a combined 44-16 record in its first four seasons, including 10-3 in its debut year. The 2007 team, though, broke new ground by starting out the year 15-0 and earning an NCAA bid, the first in the program's young history.
The Athenas were on offensive powerhouse, scoring 20 or more goals nine times in their first 10 games (with the only exception a 16-3 win over Pomona-Pitzer), and ending up leading the nation in goals per game at 18.1 per contest. Late in the year, the Athenas faced some tests, edging Redlands 15-14 on the road and then picking up two-goal wins over established programs Denison (18-16) and Ohio Wesleyan (14-12). Colorado College ended the CMS undefeated season after 15 straight wins (and 19 in a row dating back to the end of the 2006 season) with a 17-10 win over the Athenas in the finale, and then defeated CMS again at home in a quick rematch the first round of the NCAA Tournament. However, CMS earning an at-large bid (the SCIAC didn't sponsor the sport yet, so there was no automatic bid) was a huge step towards establishing the program on the national stage.
Courtney Cronin, Kristen Huff, Mallory Singer, and Callae Snively were named first-team All-West region (Singer earned it for the fourth year in a row), while Lindsay Gaesser and Kristen Steenerson were on the second team. Cronin ended the year with 51 goals, while Singer and Snively each had 49, while Gaesser had 62 assists, leading the country at 3.65 per game, a record which has not been approached ever since (she actually came the closest herself in 2008, when she had 51).
The following year, the 2008 Athenas built on the success of the 2007 team, and got back to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in a row, this time defeating Ohio Wesleyan 19-17 at home on Pritzlaff Field for their first NCAA win.
Mallory (Singer) Thau:
Looking at colleges, I had some pretty strict criteria: small, private, liberal arts college in Southern California with a varsity lacrosse team. My goal was to be an Athena, and as a high school lax player from New Jersey, I was so excited to bring my passion for this amazing sport to the West Coast.
I spent my freshman, sophomore and junior years training under Coach Lauren Uhr with the support of Dan Guthrie (the heart and soul of Athenas Lacrosse). Coach Uhr pushed us mentally and physically every single day and built our team into an undeniable powerhouse. The CMS women's lax team was a sisterhood, our sorority, my family. We spent so much time together we could read each others' minds on and off the field.
Qualifying for the NCAA tournament my senior year was the culmination of four years of hard work and teamwork. I'll never forget our spotlight in US Lacrosse Magazine in 2006; CMS Lacrosse was finally being recognized nationally for our accomplishments. I remember sitting with the girls and Coach Sarah Queener at the end of my senior season, waiting for the NCAA Tournament bracket to be announced. We ended up earning the opportunity to travel to Colorado College for our team's first ever tournament bid, which we considered a win in itself! We fought through the altitude and ended our season on a high note, even without moving into the second round...something to work towards the next season.
2007 Women's Lacrosse Roster
Head Coach: Sarah Queener
Assistant Coaches: Liz Wells, Dan Guthrie
Kelsy Avalos-Feehan (So., M, CMC)
Julianna Bores (Fr., D, Scripps)
Colbi Brawner (Fr., A, Scripps)
Jennifer Cohen (Fr., A, Scripps)
Courtney Cronin (So., A, CMC)
Catherine Delano (Fr., M, Scripps)
Kelly Dern (So., A, Scripps)
Noor El-Mohandes (Fr., D, Scripps)
Lindsay Gaessar (Jr., A, CMC)
Rebecca Geissler (Fr., A, CMC)
Kristen Huff (Sr., G, HMC)
Melissa Irvine (Fr., D/A, CMC)
Katrina Kosco (So., D, Scripps)
Jillian Larsen (So., D, CMC)
Olivia Rotondi (Jr., M, CMC)
Devon Scott (Fr., M, Scripps)
Shelly Sheinbein (Fr., M, CMC)
Mallory Singer (Sr., A, Scripps)
Callae Snively (Jr., M, CMC)
Kristen Steenerson (Jr., D, CMC)
Caroline Taylor (Fr., A/D, CMC)
Frances Thompson (So., D, CMC)
Meghan Wilson (So., M, Scripps)
2008 Women's Lacrosse Roster
Head Coach: Sarah Queener
Assistant Coaches: Liz Wells, Dan Guthrie
Kelsy Avalos-Feehan (Jr., M, CMC)
Colbi Brawner (So., A, Scripps)
Katie Campbell-Morrison (Fr., G, Scripps)
Jessica Cathcart (Fr., G, CMC)
Jennifer Cohen (So., A, Scripps)
Courtney Cronin (Jr., A, CMC)
Cassy Delano (So., M, Scripps)
Kaitlyn Desai (Fr., M, CMC)
Sarah Dick (Fr., A, CMC)
Noor El-Mohandes (So., D, Scripps)
Lindsay Gaessar (Sr., A, CMC)
Annie Geissler (So., A, CMC)
Melissa Irvine (So., D/A, CMC)
Jillian Larsen (Jr., D, CMC)
Molly Murtaugh (Fr., M, CMC)
Maggie Rogers (Fr., D, HMC)
Olivia Rotondi (Sr., M, CMC)
Devon Scott (So., M, Scripps)
Shelly Sheinbein (So., M, CMC)
Callae Snively (Sr., M, CMC)
Kristen Steenerson (Sr., D, CMC)
Katyayani Strohl (Sr., G, Scripps)
Caroline Taylor (So., M, CMC)
Blair Thompson (Sr., M, CMC)
Meghan Wilson (Jr., M, Scripps)