The 2021 season was highly memorable for the Roberts Wesleyan women’s lacrosse program, which celebrated a number of significant milestones and achievements while navigating unchartered territory.

The Redhawks captured their first East Coast Conference championship, earned their first NCAA tournament berth and advanced to the national semifinals of the NCAA Division II tournament while setting a new program record for wins during a 14-2 season.

“Last year put us on the map,” said coach Kristin Paolini, beginning her sixth season at RWC. “In truth, it was the final puzzle piece for us. We have been building our program and preparing ourselves for that level of success. We were able to show people that we can compete nationally.”

Perhaps the 2021 journey was made even sweeter because nobody outside of the program anticipated the overwhelming success. Unranked in last year’s preseason polls, RWC finished the season ranked third in the final Nike/USA Lacrosse Division II Top 20.

One year later, the expectations are a little different as the Redhawks start the 2022 season. Ranked No. 7 in the nation, RWC launched its new campaign Sunday with a season-opening 15-13 win at Walsh University. They’re back in action this weekend with a two-game eastern swing, playing at St. Michael’s in Vermont and at Southern New Hampshire.

“We have to remember that this is a new team this year,” Paolini said. “Yes, the confidence and excitement are there, but there’s new connections being made on the field. We’re navigating through our internal expectations.”

While Paolini, the IWLCA’s 2021 Division II East Region Coach of the Year, must replace several key contributors from last year’s record-setting team — including second-team All-American midfielder Emily Tomei — the cupboard is far from empty. A pair of preseason All-Americans should help lead the way.

Attacker Lindsey Brinkel, returning as a graduate student, finished second in Division II in assists last season (57) and is a second-team All-America selectee. Alongside senior Madison Bell, an 87-point scorer last year, the offense should be in good hands.

“Those two are very dynamic players and huge leaders for us,” Paolini said. “They really work at getting everybody involved. Our offense is designed to utilize everybody.”

At the defensive end, senior goalkeeper Natalie Arieno, who played every second in goal last year and was the MVP of the NCAA East Region, is a preseason third-team All-America pick.

“Natalie is such a student of the game. She learns from every shot that is taken on her,” Paolini said.

RWC’s 14-game schedule includes some interesting tweaks, possibly a residue of last year’s final four run. For the first time under Paolini’s watch, the non-league lineup includes matchups with two former national champions — a first-ever meeting against Florida Southern and the first meeting in eight years with Le Moyne.

“Scheduling has been something new to navigate through this year,” Paolini said. “Who should we play, and who wants to play us? Teams that we’ve tried to schedule for several years are now willing to play us.”

And it’s not just opposing coaches that are more cognizant of the 1,700-student Christian college on Rochester’s west side. Potential transfers are also taking notice.

“There’s definitely more kids that are taking a look at us,” Paolini said.

The recognition and respect may be nice, but Paolini also understands that staying at the top is many times more difficult than getting there. Perhaps nothing illustrates that fact better than the ECC’s 2022 coaches’ preseason poll, which has the Redhawks tabbed second behind Mercy.

“That certainly got our attention and lights a fire under us,” Paolini said. “But it also helps us understand that we have to keep proving ourselves. It’s a year-by-year process.”

Paolini reminds her players daily that the challenge ahead is as much mental as it is physical.

“We have to stay in the moment,” she said. “We can’t be thinking about the games coming up or the other things that take away our focus. We work hard on our mental approach, thinking through each game minute-by-minute and play-by-play. It takes a lot of effort, but that’s what’s needed to go where we want to go.”