(Image via corsairathletics.com)
Staff Writer: Olivia Beaudette
Email: obeaudette@umassd.edu
As the winter sports season is wrapping up, the spring athletes are getting prepped as their season has officially begun. Some squads aim to bounce back, and others hope to continue their explosive momentum into the 2024 season.
You can watch several sports this spring, including baseball, track & field, softball, and lacrosse.
With plenty of questions and storylines coming into this season, it can take a lot of work to keep up to date. Hence, take advantage of this article to know when the season starts and what teams you should be on the lookout for.
Baseball and Softball
The men’s baseball team finished last season with a record of 19-19 and an LEC record of 8-8, leaving them in 5th place. They ended with a 0-2 record in the LEC tournament. The team’s first game this season will be on February 24th at 12:00 PM at Farmingdale State College.
This spring season is baseball head coach Bob Prince’s 13th season at Umass Dartmouth. Prince has had a successful career at UMass Dartmouth; his overall record at UMass Dartmouth is 223-220-1. Prince has created a solid and successful baseball team, and with this new season beginning, his success will continue to build and encourage the team.
While the baseball team looks to bounce back, the Corsair’s Women’s softball team looks to prove last season was not lightning in a bottle. The team finished with an incredible record of 30-14, going 12-4 against conference opponents. To wrap up an eventful season, the team acquired an LEC Champion crown for the first time in their history.
The newly hired Rachel Powers, who formerly coached Wheaton College for fifteen seasons, will have her work cut out for her. She was a successful hire for Wheaton, and if her record of 293-243 tells the Corsair’s anything, it’s that she is a natural under pressure. The team looks to make it two LEC Championships in a row this season, with opening day on March 9th at 9:00 AM vs. Trine University.
Track & Field
The women’s track & field team had a solid season this winter. The team’s first meet will happen on March 30th at 10:00 AM Vs. Corsair Classic.
Rachel Leonard is entering her first year as assistant coach for the team after one season at the University of Iowa as the Director of Track & Field Operations. Ed Arcaro is another assistant coach for the track & field team.
The men’s track & field team has had an incredible winter season consisting of many 2nd and 3rd place meet results. As the winter season ends and the spring season begins, the first meeting of the outdoor season will be on March 30th at 10:00 AM vs. Corsair Classic.
Mike Salem is entering his 6th season as the track & field/cross country director for both the men’s and women’s teams. Ryan O’Connell, the head coach for cross country and distance, also supports Salem. O’Connell is entering his first year at UMass Dartmouth after previously being a head coach for Colby-Sawyer College’s track & field/cross country team.
Women’s Lacrosse
The women’s lacrosse team finished last season with a record of 8-8 and a conference record of 2-5. The team’s first game is on March 1st at 4:00 PM at Curry College.
Megan Griffin is entering her 3rd year as the head coach for the lacrosse team. Griffin’s first year at UMass Dartmouth finished with a disappointing record of 3-14, but in her second year, she led the team to a record of 8-8, which also led them to the Little East Playoffs. Griffin will continue encouraging the women’s lacrosse team to have more wins and playoff opportunities.
This spring season is just beginning and will be full of exciting games and wins in all sports. The UMass Dartmouth sports community will grow and change with new coaches or coaches who are still getting to know the campus.
As winter wraps up, it’s time to get excited and ready for the warm weather and spring sports to begin for the 2023-24 school year.