Virginia State University women’s lacrosse started its program with a resounding success. VSU defeated fellow HBCU UDC 17-7 on Feb. 17 for its first win in program history. The program is led by former Howard University lacrosse star Ashley Lawrence after being formed in late 2022.
Our Steven J. Gaither sat down with Lawrence to discuss the program’s formation, its season-opener and her goals for success. Here is some of what she had to say:
Lawrence said playing lacrosse at Howard helped prepare her for taking over the Virginia State University women’s lacrosse program.
“I think that being at an HBCU and playing a sport that’s not common in the minority population at an HBCU was a different experience,” Lawrence said. “I loved it and definitely opened my eyes to a lot of different things the university did, just playing at that level. Because Howard is a D-1 level, so we played against big programs. But just trying to find our way and that channel of travel of, different experiences and things like that – it was a good eye-opener and I loved it. I think it definitely prepped me for this year.
Most Virginia State University women’s lacrosse players are freshmen.
“The transition from high school to college – anything – is always so crazy and so chaotic and if you’re not ready or if you don’t know, then it’s always kind of like an uphill battle. So I think that that was one of the struggles that we had initially. but once the girls kind of got the flow and they kind of understood, like what those little pieces are, we’re still building that.
So, to be able to go to a team where we’re all the same, it was a good feeling. Like it makes you happy.
“I think with the first year and with us having a young team, being able to see them grow together and being able to see them learn each other is really the most important part. So of course, more wins than losses. If we can get through the season where we have this tremendous, phenomenal season, I’m 100 percent all in. But I really just want to see them grow together and I want to see that they can create this foundation.
It was good. I think that for our first time out with being a young team, we have about 15, 16 freshmen. they really showcased what it meant to work as a team. So being able to have that common goal, being able to essentially fight it out and work together and, you know, successfully 17-7. So it was really good is a really good feeling. I definitely think that the girls found that inner peace that they needed.
As one of only four HBCU lacrosse programs, VSU is giving student-athletes a fairly unique opportunity.
A lot of our young ladies come from teams where they are the one and only. And a lot of the things that they struggle with is that they weren’t playing with girls that look like them. So to be able to come somewhere where all 20 of us look the same and all 20 of us think the same and have the same upbringing and have the same thoughts and the same basic kind of all characteristics of the life piece. It makes life a lot easier for them, and it makes the sport a little bit more lovable in a sense.