Bobby Martinez – Sports Writer
NEW HAVEN — With the snow covering Jess Dow field, Southern Connecticut women’s lacrosse team were not given additional help from the athletic department to clear the playing field for practice.
“It’s frustrating,” said senior Erica Martino, “because there’s so much you can do at the gym as far as practicing to get better as a team. Especially since we have a good team heading into this year literally limited what we can do. It would be nice to go outside and play on the field because it’s a completely different atmosphere.”
Due to the inclement weather Southern had received from numerous recent snow storms, Southern Connecticut State University’s athletics department told the women’s lacrosse team they can’t plow the field because there’s risk the field can get damaged said Martino.
“Obviously it’s been snowing,” she said, “and there’s snow all over the turf. In order for us to be able to play, if we can get help from other athletic teams, we would have to shove water on the field to kind of get the snow off.”
Christos Kehagias, junior men’s lacrosse player, said it’s not right that players who work so hard to try and win every game possible for the school, cannot receive extra help.
“Even though,” he said, “my team isn’t an official Division II sport, we as a club, play each game with pride because we love the school and what they provide for us. But this particular situation has my team and I upset because we don’t know when all that snow will go away. Also, with our season just weeks away, it’s hard to prepare in a gym because it’s not the same as an official field.”
The schools soccer teams have managed to lend a helping hand with the snow said Martino. She also expressed frustration with the athletic department because she said other teams outside of Southern have gotten this snow situation handled giving them a upper hand as far as preparation goes.
“It sucks to be stuck in gym for two hours for practice,” said Martino, “when in reality we can have the whole field. What is also frustrating is the other schools around us that did get their fields plowed, that alone gives them an advantage over us because now they have the time to play outside and run the field as opposed to us playing in the gym.”
Kehagias said he hopes that the schools athletic department shows equal opportunity to every team and not just teams that have always done well overall. He said it shows a lack of support and needs to be fixed because players give it their all on the playing field representing the Owls no matter if they win lose or draw.
“I wish the school was to show fairness to all of our clubs and NCAA sports,” he said. “Not every team here is the greatest team in the country and that I get. But I know for a fact, every team plays their hardest each and every game no matter the result because they love the sport they are playing. Also, every athlete across the country selects the school that they feel will support them the most. I just don’t feel it here that much to be honest.”
Last season, this same situation had occurred and the end result was the same as this years. Martino said her coach Maureen Spellman, has been in contact with the school’s athletic department and administration in hopes to get this situation resolved.
“In the past our coach last year,” said Martino, “was always in contact with all the different departments and administration in order to help us. Our coach this year has been doing the same thing. I personally, alongside my other teammates, have not talked to administration and as of right now our coach is trying her best in staying in contact with them to get this handled correctly.”
The lady Owls begin their season March 1, 2014 at home against East Stroudsburg University at 1 p.m.
