Griffon Lacrosse continuing to build a foundation; had first 4-0 start in history
By Calvin Silvers
Missouri Western athletics has been a pioneer in the MIAA when it comes to athletes, teams and coaches, and it’s once again paved a road of opportunity for student athletes in the conference.
Griffon Lacrosse is the first of its kind, but with the sport gaining popularity in not only the Midwest but the entire country, the St. Joseph community could see a swarm of popularity hit the field, and the Griffons are a great team to follow if you’re new to the sport.
Back in 2019, Missouri Western approved the addition of women’s lacrosse as the 17th NCAA Division II varsity sport at the university, and the team would have to wait until spring of 2021 to compete.
Fast forward to 2024, and the Griffons sit at 5-2, which included the programs’ first 4-0 start in their short history.
“The chemistry of the team, obviously the fundamentals as well, we’ve really improved our stick skills,” head coach Jessica Berg said. “Fighting for the 50/50 ground balls, which I’m sure a lot of people don’t know so much about, but in basketball you have a jump ball kind of similar to lacrosse. You kind of fight for the ball that’s on the ground.”
Lacrosse is the fastest growing NCAA sport, as the biggest percentage increase for women’s sports from 2011-12 to 2021-22 was lacrosse, up 4,812 athletes for a 57% increase.
Besides Western, no other MIAA team supports lacrosse, meaning the Griffs compete in the GLVC. However, Berg hopes this changes.
“A lot more kids are getting involved in playing the sport. It’s really awesome that it’s growing in the Midwest,” Berg said. “Obviously, Missouri Western is in the MIAA, but there aren’t any teams except for us that has lacrosse, so it is kind of fun to help pave the way.”
Berg took over the team in its second season, and led the Griffons to a program-record eight wins despite not having a full-time assistant coach on staff. A Colorado Springs, Colorado, native, she originally joined Griffon Lacrosse as an assistant coach after her playing career at Regis University.
“Even when I was in grad school at Regis, I knew what I wanted to do, I knew that I wanted to be a coach,” Berg said. “I had a lot of leadership training and such, but obviously you don’t know how to do it until you do it, so it’s been really fun and it’s been good to help lead the team.”
On Sunday, March 17, Griffon Lacrosse will travel to Denver, Colorado, to take on Regis University. After spending her time with the Rangers, Berg is excited about being back home and having the opportunity to take down her old coach.
“It’s really fun to play against the coach that coached me. Obviously, the goal is to come out ahead and kind of put the knife in their heart and twist it a little,” Berg said. “But it’s kind of fun because I know a lot of their plays, I know a lot of their secrets. So it will be really fun to also go home, and that’s where my family is still, so it will be good.”
