Reflections Magazine Issue #73 - Winter 2011 | Page 10

Athletics News saints highlights SHU Lacrosse News Women’s Lacrosse Starts in 2011 Siena Heights will begin a women’s lacrosse program in 2011 and named Cindy Hill as its first coach. SHU Athletic Director Fred Smith said the decision to add women’s lacrosse completes a commitment that began with men’s lacrosse, which SHU added two years ago and played its first games last spring. Hill, who brings a wealth of experience as the girls varsity lacrosse coach at nearby Tecumseh High School, began her new duties with the Saints Sept. 1. Siena Heights plans to begin its program in the spring 2011 and will look to compete in the Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse League, a club league featuring more than 40 institutions from New York to Wisconsin. Men’s Lacrosse Joins CCLA The Siena Heights men’s lacrosse program was recently admitted into the Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association beginning in the spring of 2011. According to SHU Athletic Director Fred Smith, the CCLA is part of the larger Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association that oversees 10 Division 1 and Division 2 conferences made up of more than 220 colleges and universities throughout the U.S. Siena Heights was admitted into a Division 2 grouping that includes Michigan schools Aquinas, Calvin, Ferris State and Grand Valley State. There are three additional five-team groupings that comprise the 20 Division 2 teams in the CCLA. Eight teams qualify for postseason playoffs, with the winner of Division 2 advancing to the MCLA national championships. First Football Recruit Signs Letter of Intent Kick returner/receiver Derek West from Detroit Renaissance High School recently signed a letter of intent to become the football program’s first recruit. In high school, he accumulated more than 500 yards of total offense (300 receiving, 200 rushing) in his senior season. 10 Reflections Winter ’11 Special Ceremony Kicks-off Stadium Construction Siena Heights University broke ground on a multimillion dollar outdoor performance stadium during a special ceremony on July 13 near the proposed site. With shovels in hand, SHU President Sister Peg Albert, OP, PhD, along with members of SHU’s administration and other special guests conducted the ceremonial groundbreaking for the facility that will serve as a home field for several Saints athletic programs, including soccer, lacrosse, track and field and newly announced football. The stadium site will be located on the current baseball field. Construction started in September, and a targeted completion date is the fall of 2011. To view a live webcam of the new stadium construction site, go to www.shusaints.com. President Albert announced the playing field will be named Dr. Mike and Lynne Dawson Field after the longtime SHU benefactors. Mike is a current member of the SHU Board of Trustees while his late wife, Lynne, was a longtime SHU supporter until her passing in 2009. Also, thanks to a generous donation from benefactor Mary Spencer, President Peg Albert announced the stadium would be named O’Laughlin Stadium after 1958 Siena Heights graduate and Adria