Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 2, 1994 TAG: 9403020026
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-10 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR.
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
That's because there are 10 freshmen on this year's Radford lacrosse team, which posted its ninth straight losing season last year when it went 2-9.
In fact, the last time the Highlanders had a winning record in lacrosse (1984) is the only time the Highlanders have had a winning record in lacrosse.
Swanenburg, Radford's first-year coach, is out to change that.
"It's not out of reach for us to go .500 this year," said the 25-year-old Swanenburg, who is the youngest lacrosse head coach in the country, according to the Radford sports information office.
"I think we've got at least two [sure] wins on the schedule already."
Ah, the hubris of youth.
Considering that the program doesn't receive a lot of funding - Radford has to spend most of its money on its Big South Conference-affiliated programs, which, alas, do not include lacrosse - it's hard to imagine Radford becoming a lacrosse power in the near future.
Things could be worse, however. Rumors have persisted for several years that the program would be knocked down to club level or scrapped all together. In hiring Swanenburg, a former All-Ivy League goalkeeper at Yale and a guy with three years of experience as an assistant at Goucher College, the school has shown a commitment to keep the program around, even if it can't afford to throw a lot of dollars its way.
"I think [the athletic administration] is pretty sincere about this," said Swanenburg. "They're helping us out more than in other years. If we do a decent job, we may see more money next year."
Swanenburg, a Baltimore native, sees little green now. His job pays about $10,000 a year and he's been given enough money for about two scholarships, which are divided up among several players. He might blow most of that scholarship money on one player next year if he can land a top-notch recruit.
This year, Radford must replace Steve Govett, the team's all-time leading scorer. Senior Swanenburg midfielder Repp Lambert, who missed last season with a knee injury after scoring 20 goals in 1992, should take up most of the scoring slack. He'll be helped by senior Adam Hayes (11 goals, eight assists), junior Ricky Platter (10 goals, five assists) and sophomore Greg Craven (seven goals).
For the first time ever, Radford will play a schedule made up of all Division I opponents. On paper, it should be the kind of season that would make an old man out of any coach, even Swanenburg.
"I think the kids realize I'm going to work hard," said Swanenburg, who has already run off a few malcontents since he arrived in August. "I probably bring a lot of enthusiasm with me and I think the kids respect me . . . I want to build something here. I'm not looking at this [job] as a stepping stone."
\ SOFTBALL TURNAROUND: Last year, Suzie Rath became the first Radford softball player to be named All-Big South Conference. This year, the Highlanders may be ready to become a factor in the conference race.
Radford begins its third year of varsity softball with a couple of top returners and a crop of quality freshman. The Highlanders expect to be better than last year, when they went 6-28 and nearly upset top-seeded UNC Greensboro before losing in extra innings in the conference tournament.
"We came together last season and showed marked improvement," said Jeff Woods, Radford's softball coach. "We'll be better this year but we're still a very young team."
Radford will count on Rath, a sophomore outfielder who batted .380 and swiped a league-high 25 bases, and senior third baseman Kate Neuman (.362, 17 runs batted in). Sophomore pitcher Kerrie Pingley (5-14, 5.61 earned run average) will be the ace of the staff and should get help from a young, talented bullpen.
The future looks bright for the Highlanders, whose 16-player roster features 14 freshmen and sophomores.
\ BATTLE OF CHARLESTON: Don't forget, Radford (19-7 overall, 13-5 Big South) opens play in the 1994 Big South Conference men's basketball tournament against Maryland Baltimore County Friday at 8 p.m. in the North Charleston (S.C.) Coliseum.
Should the Highlanders win, they would play the Campbell-Winthrop winner Saturday at 8 p.m. The finals are scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday and will be televised on ESPN. The tournament champ receives an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
\ IN RADFORD: (These home events are subject to change) Baseball, March 4, Holy Cross, 2:30 p.m.; March 5, Bucknell (DH), noon; March 6, Bucknell, 1 p.m.; March 11, Juniata, noon; March 12, UNC Asheville (DH), noon; March 13, UNC Asheville, 1 p.m.; March 15, Richmond, 3 p.m.; Women's basketball, March 4, UMBC, 7 p.m.; March 5, Towson State, 7 p.m.; Lacrosse, March 2, Mount St. Mary's, 3:30 p.m.; March 4, Holy Cross, 2 p.m.; March 11, Siena, 3 p.m.; March 15, UMBC, 3 p.m.; Men's and women's gymnastics, March 5, Virginia State Meet, noon and 7 p.m.
by CNB