Weather Brings Early End to Annual WCLA Santa Barbara Shootout

As a spring sport, weather can sometimes wreak havoc with the women’s lacrosse schedule, even in normally warm and sunny Southern California.

The annual Santa Barbara Shootout, the first marquee event of the 2024 season for Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse Associates (WCLA) club teams, was rudely interrupted last weekend by a severe coastal storm that wiped out all games scheduled for day three of the event. Fortunately, all of the 40-plus Division I and II teams that participated were able to play some games before the rain, winds and flooding arrived.

Perhaps the most impressive showing belonged to Virginia Club, ranked 10th in the WCLA Division I Preseason Top 20. The Cavaliers opened with a 13-8 win over No. 11 BYU and followed with two more victories over UConn and Grand Canyon. Virginia’s success wasn’t surprising given that the team is coming off a sixth-place finish at the 2023 WCLA National Championship tournament.

The Cavs have a chance to further solidify their early season resume with three games this weekend against teams from the Southeastern Women's Lacrosse League, highlighted by matchups against No. 2 Georgia and No. 13 Florida Club. A strong showing could vault the Cavs into the top five nationally when the first regular season ranking of the year is unveiled in the coming weeks.

No. 7 San Diego State Club, building off last year’s success in which they finished fifth at the national championship tournament, recorded the most noteworthy victory in Santa Barbara, knocking off No. 6 Colorado Club, 10-8.

“We knew this would be a good matchup since we were both ranked in the Top 10 to start the year,” SDSU club president Isabella Mascardo said. “It was a close game throughout, but I think our defense in the second half was the difference.”

The Aztecs are back in action this week against Santa Clara and then travel to the Golden State Invitational in Los Angeles from February 17-18, with games against No. 14 Arizona State Club, Northeastern and North Carolina Club. SDSU will be one of seven teams, including six preseason Top 20 squads, playing in the Golden State Invitational.

“We know we have a good team, and we like playing against other good teams,” Mascardo said. “Last year’s success gives us a lot of motivation to keep the momentum going.”

Among Division II teams last weekend, Concordia was the only team to finish 3-0 in Santa Barbara, with wins over San Jose State, Chico State and UCLA’s ‘B’ squad. The 16-team Division II field in Santa Barbara included five Top 20 squads, with No. 6 San Marcos, No. 13 Montana State and No. 15 Cal State Fullerton all recording 2-0 records.

Nearly 200 non-varsity collegiate teams comprise the WCLA and compete under the USA Lacrosse umbrella. The annual WCLA National Championships, scheduled this year for May 7-10 at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kansas, will feature the top 16 Division I clubs and 16 Division II teams vying for titles.