By: Steele Smith, Staff Writer

In the Spring of 2017, Wofford will field its first ever varsity women’s lacrosse team. Joanne Franklin and Monica Branch, transfer lacrosse players from Goucher College in Baltimore, MD, discuss the dynamics surrounding their arrival and the team.

Wofford’s new head coach came from Goucher and brought the two players with her.  “Ceri Miller, our coach, was recruited to come here by John Blair,” says Franklin. “They offered her the job while she was still at our old school.”

Franklin says Coach Miller broke the news at the beginning of last year’s season. Branch says the team was heartbroken at the loss of their coach. “Our team was known for being super close; we had absolutely no drama. We all did each other favors like we had known each other forever,” she says.

After their season ended, Franklin and Branch began looking into transferring to Wofford along with their coach. “I personally thought that it would be beneficial to me with my skill level,” says Franklin. “I showed interest in Wofford because I thought that maybe it could be worth it.” Branch and Franklin, along with two other Goucher women’s lacrosse players, eventually made the decision to transfer to Wofford to play lacrosse.

This decision was not only bold and abrupt, but also initially harshly received by the Goucher athletic community. “Obviously our team was upset and people were mad, especially those who we were the closest with,” says Branch. “But, we knew at the end of the day they would get over it and have our backs.”

Both Franklin and Branch say that eventually their teammates were able to respect and support their decision to leave. However, not everyone was as accepting. “Some people were just rude. The athletic director was harassing our coach and it was really unnecessary. We felt that people blew it up more than they should have,” says Branch.

“They had a full news article with our faces on the front of the newpaper,” recalls Franklin. Branch adds, “They looked like mug shots; our coach and us four on roster. The headline read ‘Goucher Lacrosse Transfers Spark Controversy in the Athletic Department.’” Both were frustrated by the negative portrayal and see the situation as unfortunate since they actually do love Goucher.

Entering Wofford as juniors, Franklin, Branch and two other Groucher transfers are all currently the most experienced players on the team. “We are the only four upperclassmen, and we’re knew here. We have to do our best being leaders without knowing how to lead in this environment. But we know how to lead; it’s our nature,” says Franklin about the current dynamics of the team.

Both believe that their familiarity with Coach Miller and what she expects has made the transition and team cohesion much smoother. However, it takes time for players to adjust to a completely new environment.  “Everyone on our team is new to Wofford, including the coaches. Everything is fresh,” says Franklin.

With 11 players, all redshirted for 2016-17, currently on the roster and more recruits coming in next fall, the excitement will only continue to build up until their first game in the spring of 2017. “We’re going to have a whole year to get to the level we want to be at, so by the time the freshmen get in we are going to be coming in hot,” elaborates Branch.

The team will be playing their home games in Gibbs Stadium and have their locker rooms in the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium, which is currently under construction.

The two players are overall excited about their move to Wofford. “We came here to play lacrosse,” they say. “We know this time next year that the stadium will be built and we’ll have all these recruits coming in. Our team is going to be on top of it, and we are really excited.”