UMD Lacrosse Hosts First Home Games in Four Years

Bulldogs begin playoffs April 19

DULUTH, Minn.- For the first time in four years, Griggs Field was a lot more than just a practice field for the UMD lacrosse team.

With the remnants from a previous snowstorm cleared out, the Bulldogs were able to host home games against North Dakota State and Drury.

“I’ve always dreamed of playing on this field,” said Reece Wickman, a senior for UMD. “It’s really hard because all of our other games are at least 100 miles away, so we have to drive down to the (Twin) Cities or drive out to Minot to play the Montana teams.”

“I’m a senior this year, it’s so special for me to get this opportunity,” says Teagan Klepsa-Orrey. “It’s special for the freshmen on the team, the younger classmen, they get to remember this feeling and hopefully carry it forward into the future.”

Even though it’s their first time playing a regular season game on Griggs Field, the Bulldogs’ lacrosse team holds a special kinship with the turf. “Every morning, you know, it’s we wake up and we practice in 30-degree weather,” explained Klepsa-Orrey “and it’s just something about getting up, getting gritty in the cold. It just holds a place in my heart, and it always will.”

As a club sport, UMD Lacrosse doesn’t get the same kind of attention as the school’s NCAA programs. Nevertheless, these Bulldogs have the same goals and heart as any other team on campus.

“I love these guys,” smiled Wickman. “I love being out here (at) six a.m. grinding with these guys. We grind hard, we get on each other on practice, but when it comes to being there and picking each other up, we’re always there lend our brothers a helping hand.”

“A lot of stigma comes with the whole idea of club sports; we take a lot of pride in everything we do.” says Klepsa-Orrey. “We train hard, we practice hard, and we want to be the best team in the country. That’s our end goal: To be champions.”