LINFIELD UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S LACROSSE VERSUS PACIFIC • APRIL 19, 2024

WILDCAT SPOTLIGHT

‘the definition of grit’

Returning to full strength on the field following knee surgery is daunting, but Maya Wright is making all the right moves

by karlie vercauteren ’27

Maya Wright’s dedication to her teammates and her sport is guiding the Linfield University junior through a challenging recovery following one of the most dreaded injuries in sports.

Wright’s lacrosse journey started when she was in fifth grade. She watched her older brother play and be coached by their father and decided the sport looked fun, so she jumped in. After about a year, Wright decided she wanted to switch to girls lacrosse so that she could wear a skirt as part of her uniform.

The more Wright played, the more she fell in love with “the adrenaline” of lacrosse. “Scoring is fun,” she says, “but so is assisting your teammates and helping them achieve their goals. I just like how high intensity it is all the time.”

Though she has an appreciation of many different elements of the game, Wright naturally gravitated toward the offensive side of the field, playing the ‘attack’ position.

Wright’s passion pushed her to continue playing at Linfield, although she had originally not planned on staying very long. The uncertainty brought on by COVID made the West Linn native hesitant to move far from home, but once things settled down, she had expected to transfer elsewhere.

That all changed when Wright tore her ACL two weeks before the start of the 2022 season. Suddenly unable to play, she had no choice but to take a step back and reevaluate her situation. In doing so, she was hit with how much she loved her Linfield teammates and coach, especially after a change in coaching staff drastically improved the culture.

Seeing her teammates compete without her was painful, but it helped Wright remain dedicated to recovery she would need to be able to return to play.

“The FOMO (fear of missing out) of watching my team play and celebrating all the wins and the little things made me hungrier and I wanted to be a part of it,” she says. “I had a different role off the field, but I felt like half of a whole. I really wanted to get back so I could be a part of the team and contribute to those wins.”

Wright did not want to use her injury as an excuse to abandon the team entirely, so she had to learn to take on a new role on the field. She had never missed a game in her life, so this transition was challenging, but she managed it gracefully.

“I had to learn to transfer my energy elsewhere,” Wright says, explaining how she became the point person for leading team cheers, grabbing water bottles and doing everything she could to support the players.

In her personal life, Wright says she had to find ways to occupy her time that were not centered around sports. “I tried to find new hobbies. When you’re an athlete, it’s so focused on physical (activities). If I wasn’t working out, or going on a walk or something like that, I didn’t know what to do with myself. So, I got super into listening to podcasts and coloring, and more mindful activities.”

Wright was still unable to participate in this year’s fall practices, but was at last cleared to play just before the start of the 2024 spring season. While it came as an enormous relief to her, it also highlighted how hard it was going to be to return to her previous level of play. “It’s been really difficult. I’ve had to redefine my own goals and my roles. The brain-body connection just isn’t quite there; I’m not able to stop on a dime like I once did. It’s hard because I have really high expectations for myself,” she says.

One crucial way Wright has navigated those painful challenges has been to talk with teammates who have also had season-ending injuries and are familiar with their unique pain and challenges. One teammate who Wright often turns to for support is fellow junior Mackenzie Kulick. For her part, Kulick says that “Maya is the definition of grit. No matter the challenge, she locks in and gives it her all. She is always celebrating everything and leaving nothing.”

Wright’s stellar work ethic and attitude are not confined to the lacrosse field; she is a Psychology major with a minor in Law, Rights, and Justice, fueling a strong interest in the criminal justice system.

While it makes for a very busy schedule, Wright is incredibly empowered by the work she is doing and is driven to bring change to a broken system. She passionately recalls touring the Yamhill County jail last year with her sociology class: “We got a tour from one of the main guys and he was so knowledgeable. I was really surprised that he was cognizant of the problems because I think when you’re that close, it’s hard for you to see that things are wrong. He was very progressive in his ideas. He understands that what he is doing right now is not right and that he needs to do better, and that the system needs to do better.”

Wright is not entirely certain what role she’ll play in addressing the inequities within the criminal justice system. Yet she’s confident that continuing with her classes and research within the Linfield Sociology and Psychology departments will help her refine her future goals.

In the meantime, Wright will continue to fight for herself and her team, prioritizing balance and fun on the field.

HEAD COACH SARAH DALSEY

from the ground up

Sarah Dalsey is in her second year as women’s lacrosse coach at Linfield. She is the ninth women’s lacrosse coach in the program’s 26-year history.

Most recently, Dalsey worked for one year at NCSA Sports, connecting prospective students and families with collegiate athletic programs that fit their interests and needs. In 2020, she worked at Pro-Fit in West Berlin, New Jersey, managing administrative and financial workflows.

Dalsey’s administrative experience also includes internships at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland, where she assisted the director of athletics with a variety of essential tasks, and at Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York, where she served one year in the athletics communications office.

Her coaching resume features three years as an assistant women’s lacrosse coach at McDaniel and two years assisting at Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan. In addition, Dalsey was head coach of the Nike Girls Lacrosse Camp at McDaniel College and Pace University, and led club travel teams in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.

Dalsey completed a bachelor’s degree in Sports Studies and Communications/Media Studies at Manhattanville College. She went on to earn a master’s degree in kinesiology from McDaniel while serving as a graduate assistant coach.

sarah dalsey

Sarah Dalsey is steadily breathing new life into the Linfield lacrosse program, growing expectations for future success

MEET THE WILDCATS

Maya wright | 2 5-3 | Junior | M/A West Linn, Oregon

Savannah irwin | 6 5-7 | Sophomore | O Bend, Oregon

Star pfleiger| 12 5-5 | Freshman | M Schuylerville, New York

Madison de la trinidad | 3 5-8 | Freshman | D West Los Angeles, California

Elizabeth Long | 13 5-0 | Freshman | D Cottage Grove, Minnesota

Mackenzie Kulick | 25 5-5 | Junior | D The Woodlands, Texas

Grayce Miller | 20 5-1 | Sophomore | D San Diego, California

Leah Stednick | 17 5-4 | Junior | O/M Mercer Island, Washington

Kelsey Reinemer | 22 5-8 | Junior | D Redmond, Oregon

Maizri chandler | 28 5-8 | Sophomore | M/A Scappoose, Oregon

Caity babcock | 75 5-5 | Junior | GK Salinas, Califronia

Tristan Zehner Assistant Coach First Year

Gabby crist | 7 5-5 | Sophomore | M Lake Oswego, Oregon

Emma gallegos | 21 5-3 | Freshman | D West Valleyt, Utah

Tenley hodge | 99 5-8 | Sophomore | GK Beaverton, Oregon

Sarah Dalsey Head Coach Second Year

Gracie pratt | 27 5-3 | Sophomore | D Carbondale, Colorado

HEAD COACH: Brittany Hartmann (fifth year)

LINFIELD VERSUS PACIFIC

match breakdown

THE RECORDS

Linfield moved to 4-7 overall and 3-6 in Northwest Conference play after losing road games to Whitworth and Whitman last weekend. The Wildcats are playing at home for the first time in a month, hosting NWC foe Pacific (2-10, 0-8 NWC)

LINFIELD AT A GLANCE

The Wildcats average 14.09 goals per game which ranks fourth in the NWC. Gabby Crist (35) leads the offense in total goals with Leah Stednick (24) and Mackenzie Kulcik (23) the next closest. Savannah Irwin led the ‘Cats in assists with 16. Madison De La Trinidad leads the conference in ground balls per game at 3.18 and caused turnovers per game with 1.82. In goal, Tenley Hodge has started all 11 games and has totaled 96 saves on a .389 save percentage.

PACIFIC AT A GLANCE

The Boxers average 6.36 goals per game which is last in the conference. Hyland Cullen-Musengo leads the Pacific offense with 19 goals with Devyn Davis is the only other player in double digits with 14. Zannah Suehiro leads the Boxers’ defense with 10 caused turnovers. Goalie Sophie Sheppard leads Pacific goalkeepers with 63 saves while holding a .391 save percentage.

SERIES HISTORY

Linfield is going for the season sweep after defeating Pacific in Forest Grove 24-16. The Wildcats are 16-19 all-time against the Boxers. The ‘Cats are 10-0 in the last 10 matchups and are looking to extend an 11-game winning streak against Pacific.

12 star pfleiger

LINFIELD SPORTS NETWORK

The Linfield Sports Network will again bring fans live action of all home Linfield lacrosse matches during the 2023 season. Fans can enjoy live video webcasts with play-by-play commentary on their computer, tablet, mobile device or smart TV.

Live coverage begins 10 minutes prior to the start of each contest. Broadcasts include a complete postgame wrap-up with analysis and statistical breakdown.

McMinnville native Joe Stuart, a 2020 Linfield graduate, is the Athletics Broadcast Operations Coordinator, managing all aspects of Linfield’s webcasting outreach and handling lead play-by-play duties on Linfield football, baseball and softball webcasts in addition to basketball. Stuart also assists with other external sports communications and social media needs.

Linfield freshman Johnny Miller will handle play-by-play duties on Linfield lacrosse broadcasts this spring. Miller is a graduate of Jesuit High School in Portland and a member of the Linfield football team. He made his broadcast debut recently, calling play-byplay for Linfield baseball games.

All LSN broadcasts, both live and on demand, can be accessed at golinfieldwildcats.com/watch or from within the Linfield Athletics app on mobile, tablet or smart TVs.

From the weekend warrior to the elite athlete, we are ready to get you back in the game. We will work closely with you to help create a treatment plan geared to and focused on you.

We are proud to serve as the team physicians for Linfield College, McMinnville High School and the See Ya Later Foundation.

Uncommon place

Uncommon people

Left to right: Anela Madarang-Brandes, Ainsley Medina, Sydney Downing, Paige Richards, Margaritah Bañuelos, Paige Pa’aluhi, Journey DePonte, Bella Rodriguez, Araeya Watanabe, Katelin Sindelar, Nora Myre, Marina Erosa, Ryli Kalahiki, Camryn Hirst, Claire Johnson, Cam Coughlin, Lexi Correa.

Note: Lewis & Clark and Pacific Lutheran are launching new programs and are playing non-conference schedules this spring before joining the NWC in earnest in 2025.

22 kelsey reinemer

Taste the bounty of the region in unexpected ways.

Now taking reservations for our new Seasons menu celebrating the micro-seasons from our farm. Also duck into our cozy Cellar Bar for farm-inspired cocktails, our six-course tasting menu or a la carte bites.

A new class of inductees is honored at the Hall of Fame Banquet each fall. Inductees are chosen from a list of submitted nominations and voted upon by the Hall of Fame Executive and Selection Committees. The 20-member panel is made up of current and former staff members, past inductees, a member of the media, and a former athlete representing each of the preceding six decades.

Nominations must be submitted in writing using an official nomination form. Hall of Fame nominations are considered in any one of six categories: Athlete, Coach, Team, Athletics Staff, and Meritorious Service.

The Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame, sponsored by Pacific Office Automation, was established in 1998 as an avenue to honor former athletes, coaches, staff and contributors and to preserve the memory of their past achievements.

Women’s golfer Josie Daywitt joins softball stars Brynn Nelson and Tayah Kelley as NWC honorees

For the third straight week, three Linfield studentathletes have been selected as Northwest Conference Student-Athletes of the Week as announced by the conference office on Monday. In softball, Tayah Kelley was named Pitcher of the Week and Brynn Nelson was honored as Player of the Week. Josie Daywitt’s efforts on the course saw her named Women’s Golf Student-Athlete of the Week.

Kelley earned three wins in 14 innings pitched as Linfield swept the four-game series against Pacific this last weekend. In two starts, Kelley hurled two complete games including a complete game shutout, struck out 25 batters and gave up only one earned run. Over three appearances, Kelley ended the weekend with a 0.50 ERA.

Nelson paced the offense with seven hits and a .583 batting average, and registered at least one hit in every game. She drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning in the series finale. Nelson also poured in two runs, two doubles, six RBIs and finished the weekend with a 1.000 slugging percentage.

Daywitt led the Wildcats with low scores of 85 and 82 over two weekend duals against Willamette. Her 18-hole tally of 82 on Sunday lifted Linfield over Willamette in a dual meet at Langdon Farms Golf Club. Daywitt’s score helped the Wildcats secure a 10-stroke team victory.

PROUD PARTNER OF LINFIELD ATHLETICS

THE TOPCAT CLUB

The Linfield University TopCat Club serves as a support organization to the 21 NCAA Division III varsity sports teams and the more than 500 students who participate in athletics each year. Each year, support from the TopCat Club is essential to maintaining and expanding each of these programs.

The mission of the TopCat Club is to provide students with an outstanding athletic and academic experience and to strengthen the overall competitiveness of the overall Linfield athletics program.

At Linfield, we continually strive to improve programs and facilities so that our teams may compete at the highest level. Roughly 75 percent of the athletic department’s annual operating budget comes from the university’s general fund. The remainder is generated through a wide variety of external sources, including annual gifts to the Linfield TopCat Club.

To learn more about giving opportunities, please visit the TopCat Club website at www.linfieldtopcat.com

MANAGED IT SERVICES

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