Lindenwood Magazine - Fall 2021

16 FALL 2021 EDITION THE LINDENWOOD 17 FALL 2021 EDITION THE LINDENWOOD ATHLETICS LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY WOMEN’S LACROSSE WINS FIRST NCAA TEAM TITLE IN SCHOOL HISTORY LINDENWOOD ATHLETICS Becoming a successful person requires one to fight through adversity and keep the end goal in mind, a task that takes some longer to accomplish than others. When playing a sport at the collegiate level, there needs to be a balance of academic obligations, athletic commitments, and personal care. Anyone can plan out the next week, month, or even year, but when life throws a curveball, one must adjust accordingly to remain on track. Now, combine 31 players and two coaches. The goal of building a successful team means keeping 33 people on the same page for the entirety of the season. The process, however, begins before the players step on campus. Jack Cribbin ‘05 began his 16th year as head coach of the women’s lacrosse program during the 2021 season alongside Associate Head Coach Brian Smith ‘05. The two played together at Lindenwood during their college years and have built a program centered on high-quality culture. The coaching staff is dedicated to helping young women grow into outstanding citizens and recruiting players who reflect the values of the program. Supporting one another is a key pillar that has made the Lions successful on and off the field. “We make the standards clear, and we hold the team to those high standards,” Head Coach Jack Cribbin said. “Over the years, we’ve taken input from the student-athletes, and that has helped us define what our values are. We start each practice with a joke of the day, and we discuss one of our pillars of Unity, Passion, Servanthood, Humility, and Thankfulness. Peer-to-peer positive reinforcement on how we are staying committed to our pillars and values has made it an expectation to stay true to our standards.” Since joining the NCAA, the Lions have been a national contender. In 10 years competing at the Division II level, Lindenwood has compiled a winning percentage of .886 with seven NCAA Tournament appearances. Prior to the 2021 season, the Lions made four appearances in the NCAA Final Four, but a commitment to the system and the culture created belief that the trophy was in reach. The Lions began the season with 13 straight victories, outscoring opponents by a 235–89 margin. In that stretch there were three victories over ranked opponents, including a 12–10 win over then-No. 1 University of Indianapolis (UIndy). Lindenwood scored double-figures in every one of those matches, while surpassing the 20-goal plateau four times, and averaged 18.07 goals per game. The lone blemish of the season came at the hands of UIndy in the GLVC Championship game, who avenged their loss to the Lions earlier in the season. Despite the loss, Lindenwood headed to the NCAA Tournament for the seventh-consecutive season, the longest current streak in Division II. Lindenwood met UIndy for the third time during the season, earning a 17–13 victory and their fifth trip to the NCAA semifinals in program history. “After the regional win over UIndy, I didn’t think anyone was stopping us. We had so much confidence and belief and we just felt it. It’s hard to explain, but we felt it was our time,” Cribbin said. In the semifinal matchup, Lindenwood would take on Roberts Wesleyan. Lindenwood took a quick 4–0 lead and picked up the 12–9 victory behind four goals and two assists from Erin McGuire. “Looking in the players’ eyes before the championship game and knowing the love they had for each other, we believed, and we were prepared to bring the trophy home to St. Charles. We knew we just had to play our game, 60 minutes of Lindenwood lacrosse, and we would be Champions,” Cribbin shared. Lindenwood moved on to the National Championship game, as the Lions were set to take on the Queens Royals (N.C.). After the game was tied 2–2 early on, the Lions went on a 10–3 scoring run to take a 12–5 lead into halftime. Queens made a push in the second half, but the Lions held on for the 14–12 victory, winning their first National Championship in program history. The celebration began in Salem, Va., and continued as the team traveled back to St. Charles, Mo. After exiting the plane, the Lions received a police escort back to campus. The women’s lacrosse team was greeted by passionate Lindenwood faculty, staff, and students. As members of the team got off the bus, the trophy was raised high in front of the roaring crowd. The Lions carried the championship hardware into Hunter Stadium, bringing the season full circle. The hard work in the offseason, the dedication to the classroom, the support surrounding the program, and the focus on the end goal came to fruition as the dream of winning a national title became a reality. JACK CRIBBIN Looking in the players’ eyes before the championship game and knowing the love they had for each other, we believed, and we were prepared to bring the trophy home to St. Charles. We knew we just had to play our game, 60 minutes of Lindenwood lacrosse, and we would be Champions. Smith and Cribbin were joined by Smith’s children, Connor and Danny, to celebrate the win. Captains L to R: Meghan Rea, Emma Wildhard, Carly Federowski, Alex Hammonds. Photo Credit: Ryan Hunt