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WDIA: Testing the Midwest
Feb. 5, 2008
by Jac Coyne, Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff As far as women's lacrosse pipelines go, the one from Catonsville, Md., to St. Charles, Mo., isn't known for its volume. For those student-athletes cutting their teeth in the Baltimore area the prospect of traveling to a St. Louis suburb to culminate a playing career doesn't typically hold much allure. With so many options just a stone's throw away, why travel to Middle America? Due to the perseverance of a young coach unbowed by conventional recruiting wisdom and a pair of players unafraid of trying something new, a trickle of talent has started flowing to the Heartland. The coach is Jack Cribbin, the third-year coach at Lindenwood University, a small liberal arts college located just outside the shadow of the Gateway Arch. Realizing that the talent produced by the 28 high school programs in Missouri couldn't bolster a program he wanted to lift to the upper echelon of the WDIA, Cribbin looked toward the East Coast. "We get a couple of area kids but lacrosse isn't growing as much in the Midwest as it is in other areas," said Cribbin. "Each year we talk to a handful of coaches from around the country at the high school and junior college level and that's how I stumbled upon Jackie and Kandee." Jackie Noble and Kandee Schroeder, both members of the Catonsville Community College team that won a National Junior College Athletic Association national title in 2005 and made a return trip to the championship game in 2006, had offers from varsity programs within an easy drive of their of their former campus, but each had a wanderlust itch they wanted to scratch. "I just wanted a chance to see a different part of the U.S.," said Schroeder, who grew up in Charm City. "I've always lived in Baltimore so I thought this would be a good opportunity to go somewhere new and see something new." Noble's trip to Catonsville was the start of her journey. A native of Whitby, Ontario, Noble saw her college years as a way to check out all that her Southern neighbor had to offer.
"I really enjoyed Maryland, but I figured I'd use this opportunity to see another part of the United States and get a full view of everything," said Noble. "I kind of shied away from some schools because they were still up and down the East Coast and I wanted to see a different part. I really liked Coach Jack when I talked with him. He was helpful in answering all my questions and getting me through all the visa stuff." A two-year stint in one of the underrated parts of our country drew the interest of Schroeder and Noble, but it was the campus atmosphere that sealed the deal. Boasting 42 varsity sports, Lindenwood is serious about its athletics. A monument to this is fact is the stunning, 6,500-seat stadium sitting in the middle of campus - a facility that Cribbin argues is the finest in the nation for its size. And it obviously helped that the Lions had a lot more victories than setbacks on the lacrosse field. "More than anything, we win," said Cribbin. "Some of the other programs they were looking at weren't winning as much. We said come here and we'll support you. We have great facilities and St. Louis is a big selling point for us. The school really sold itself more than I ever did." The final piece of the puzzle was the built-in support structure the duo would have by attending the same school. Noble and Schroeder were roommates at Catonsville and continuing that friendship proved irresistible. "We felt we could do it together because we were transferring in as juniors," said Noble. "We wouldn't have the freshman experience of meeting everyone so it's nicer to do it with someone who is there for support. With both of us being so far from home it would have been a hard transition if we were on our own. We both kind of decided on Lindenwood together." The decision by Noble and Schroeder to experiment with an unfamiliar locale has helped the Lindenwood program visit areas it has rarely gone, specifically Denver, the site of the last year's WDIA championship tournament. In their first season with the Lions last spring, the tandem helped Lindenwood rack up a 14-7 record in the regular season and capture the Central Plains Women's Lacrosse League title, which punched their ticket to the championships. Schroeder was the team's top gun, posting team highs in goals (71) and points (89) from her midfield position. Setting up shop behind the cage, Noble was the Lions' playmaker, dishing our 39 assists to cutters and rolling the crease for 44 markers. Both were named to the WDIA All-American second team for their efforts. With the Catonsville Connection as the catalyst, Lindenwood won their first-ever game in the WDIA tournament - a 9-8 win over Pittsburgh - in their second-ever appearance. The Lions entered the tournament as the 13th seed and finished 12th, a small, but important step, for a growing program. Noble and Schroeder return for their final season in 2007 and the expectations continue to grow. "Our team definitely is more skilled than it has been in the past," said Schroeder. "We're working a lot harder this year and we definitely want to come in the top five." "We've only grown this year," added Noble. "We've grown in our skill level, the amount of players, and our training. I think we're going to look good this year." The pipeline from the East has grown, as well. With the success Noble and Schroeder have brought, Lindenwood is attracting more and more players from "Back East." Amanda Shapiro, a junior goalie, is following the path already blazed, moving from Monroe (Rochester, N.Y.) Community College to Lindenwood. Each passing year allows Cribbin to open other valves to lacrosse hotbeds, slowly making St. Charles a lacrosse destination. The Lindenwood Rule Made up of a five-team East Division and a six-team West Division, the CPWLL is comprised mostly of programs still searching for traction in the WDIA. Some programs are having trouble recruiting high-end players because of their location in states with very little prep lacrosse, such as Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Other teams haven't developed enough to where they can afford to travel and play the top teams in the country. Lindenwood provides a good program to emulate in both regards. The University of Kansas is one of the teams chasing the Lions success. "We're trying to overturn the `Lindenwood Rule' on our league, because they've had most of the national recognition longer than anyone else in our region," wrote Celie Wall, the president of the KU team, in an email. "This is why I'm trying to get our team more experience and new [opponents]." Jack Cribbin, Lindenwood's skipper, understands that success sometimes breeds envy because the Lions are eyeing other teams in the same way. "It's like the Yankees," he said. "Everyone hates the Yankees. Some teams in our conference have that feeling towards us. The funny thing is we're decent in our region, but nationally we really haven't done anything. The first time we won a game against a ranked opponent this past year. We're nowhere near the Cal-Polys or the Michigans, but with teams in our conference like Kansas there might be some animosity towards us. Region-wise, I guess we're the team to knock off, but that can change. The Jayhawks are an up-and-coming team, posting a 10-4 record last year playing primarily against regional competition. It's this success that has Wall thinking KU is on the cusp of a nationals berth. "Kansas is fully prepared to be the new CPWLL champions for the first time in Jayhawk history!" wrote Wall. There's no underestimating the power of positive thinking, but judging by last year's result against Lindenwood - a 14-0 loss in the CPWLL semifinals - the Jayhawks may be chasing the Lions for another season or two. Slides & Rides Have an idea for the WDIA Notebook? Drop an email to Jac Coyne. Previous Notebooks | ||||||
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