UA women begin playoff race

The Arizona women's club lacrosse team will host its first playoff game of the season at Rincon-Vista Sports Complex at 15th Street and Plumer Avenue at 1 p.m.

The matchup will be against the winner of the Cal-Santa Barbara-UCLA game earlier in the day.

The Laxcats have faced both UCSB and UCLA this season, losing to UCSB on Saturday and beating UCLA, 10-3.

The Laxcats (11-3 overall, 6-2 in Southern California Women's Lacrosse League) finished league play against the Gauchos and Westmont College last weekend.

The Saturday match with the Gauchos was close throughout, but the Laxcats fell, 6-4.

On Sunday, the regular season ended for the Laxcats with a 17-4 dismantling of Westmont. The win secured the Laxcats second place in the league.

"During practice this week we have picked up the intensity," defensive player Heather Kalmbach said.

She said the Laxcats have focused on pulling together and playing as a team throughout practice this week.

Sophomore goalie Margaret Fifer and midfielder Jessica Deal are expected to lead the Laxcats to a Final Four playoff spot in Berkeley, Calif., next weekend.

Last year the Laxcats qualified for the lacrosse Final Four but returned home after a disappointing loss in the semifinals.

Offensive player Andrea Boso, Deal and Kalmbach bring last season's Final Four experience to this year's squad.

"We want the whole team to come together and play as a whole," co-head coach Gene Lower said. "We are expecting big games from everyone."