By Chris Jackson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
April 23, 1998

Women's lacrosse team set to host playoffs

The playoffs are always tough in terms of preparation.

Especially when a team finds out its opponent less than 24 hours before game time.

That's the situation the Arizona women's lacrosse team faces Sunday at 11 a.m. as it hosts a second round playoff game against an undetermined opponent at Wildcat Field.

But not knowing who they're going to play may not be as bad as it sounds, one Wildcat said.

"I think it has its benefits," sophomore attacker Erin Bradbury said. "But it's also not as good (because) if we knew, we could prepare, but it's also good because we have to keep working hard during the week."

Arizona (9-0) is the top seed in the Western Women's Lacrosse League Southern Division and therefore gets a first round bye. The Wildcats await the winner of Saturday's game between No. 5 seed Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo and No. 4 seed Claremont.

Arizona defeated both teams earlier this season, 11-7 over Cal-Poly and 11-8 over Claremont.

Freshman Jenny Menditch said she would rather face one team over the other.

"Claremont," she said. "We had a good game against them last time."

Bradbury, who missed the Claremont game while she was sick with pneumonia, said she doesn't have a preferred choice between the two teams.

"I heard Claremont was a stronger team, but I have a friend from high school who's on the team, so I might like to play them," she said.

Menditch said she feels that not knowing who the Wildcats are going to play is "more of an incentive, because it gets your adrenaline up."

Bradbury said the two weeks in between Arizona's last regular season game and the playoffs have helped the team.

"Last week there was a slight lull (because) we were tired from the season, but this week we're really revved up," she said.

This weekend will also mark the final home game of the season, as the remainder of the playoffs will be in San Diego.

"It's going to be sad because I'm a freshman and I didn't get to spend a lot of time with the older girls," Menditch said.

Bradbury agreed she will miss the seniors when they are gone, but she also said this weekend is "a chance to show what kind of a team we are. I think we'll have a lot of fans there, too. More fans have come out at each home game, so we're hoping for a bigger crowd."

Western Women's Lacrosse league

North Division Playoff Schedule

All games to be played at Stanford (#1 Seed)

Saturday 4/25

(#3) U.C. Davis vs. (#6) U.C. Santa Cruz

(#4) Santa Clara vs. (#5) St. Mary's

Sunday 4/26

(#2) U.C. Berkeley vs Winner of (#3) vs. (#6)

(#1) Stanford vs Winner of (#4) vs. (#5)

South Division Playoff Schedule

Games to be played at Sites of Higher Seeds

Saturday 4/25

(#3) U.C. San Diego vs. (#6) U.C. Los Angeles

(#4) Claremont vs. (#5) Cal Poly SLO

Sunday 4/26

(#2) U.C. Santa Barbara vs Winner of (#3) vs. (#6)

(#1) Arizona vs Winner of (#4) vs. (#5)

Winners of 2nd round advance to Final 4 in San Diego