Texas v. Southwestern
6pm, Tuesday, Feb. 9*
Whittaker Intramural Fields, 51st & Guadalupe
(*Time and date subject to change)

Following recent tradition, the Texas lacrosse team will start off its spring schedule with a scrimmage against Southwestern University on Tuesday, a seasonal ritual that has benefitted both squads in the last few years. The only difference this time is that the Longhorns will be playing against an NCAA squad instead of the class of the LSA DII.

That’s because this year the Pirates moved up to the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division III, becoming the first NCAA squad in the state of Texas and one of the few west of the Mississippi.

The Horns condition for their first game of the season.

Texas head coach Noah Fink sees this as an opportunity to play some tough competition as well as prepare for the forthcoming MCLA season.

“We have been playing Southwestern now for five years in the pre-season and as they continue to use their NCAA profile to recruit nationally we are excited to play a strong opponent in the pre-season,” Fink said. “Coach Ernst is a fine coach who will have his team ready to play. We are looking forward to getting our guys up and down against another jersey color and I am sure the scrimmage will be productive for each of us.”

Despite recent setbacks due to weather, Texas has been as productive as usual, trading last Wednesday’s practice for a high intensity workout at Anytime Fitness. The team progressed through stations of varying difficulty, including kettlebell swings, medicine ball tosses, box jumps and agility work with speed ladders.

Texas lost last Thursday’s practice to more heavy rain, but on Friday, as the sun peaked out, the Horns took to Clark Field for an hour of wind sprints and body weight exercises.

Now, it’s again the weather that will decide when No. 18 Texas suits up against Southwestern. Coaches are planning on playing the game Tuesday evening, although the time and date are still tentative depending on the forecast.

Either way, players and coaches alike are getting ready to start the season and finally see the product of all of their hard work in practice.

“I think that this will be a great measuring stick for the new guys and returning players alike,” Fink said. “We will get to see how the team responds when it’s game time.”