For the past two years, men’s and women’s lacrosse players at St. Andrews Presbyterian College have busied themselves with raising money to help fund special trips.

Their efforts will come to fruition during the upcoming spring break with the men heading to California while the women go to Colorado to play teams from Pennsylvania and Colorado.

“This is a rare opportunity for any athlete, but more so for Division II athletes,” said Michael Lawson, head coach for the men’s lacrosse team. “Recruits are excited to see that we’re doing this. We’re expanding the footprint of our game and for our players while it’s expanding their travel opportunities.”

From T-shirt sales to ice cream socials, both the men and women have busied themselves with preparing financially for this trip.

“This will help tremendously with recruiting,” said Lyndsey Boswell, head women’s lacrosse coach. “Last year, we were able to go to Pennsylvania and our New York parents were able to watch their kids play. We’re getting some recruits from Colorado next year and we hope to be able to take them back there by their senior year.”

In addition to apparel sales and ice cream fundraisers at Baskin Robbins, the teams held car washes and sold bumper stickers.

Athletic Director Brian Mand says the spring break trips by the respective lacrosse teams are a “win-win” for the student-athletes, coaches and college.

“By asking the coaches and student-athletes to raise the funds for the trip, they have taken ownership of their program and have come to realize that the fruition of their efforts is an earned privilege, not an entitlement,” said Mand. “It also taught them entrepreneurial skills and to be creative in finding ways and means in which to raise the required funds to make the trips a reality.

“In addition to the recruiting benefits, the trips will have an educational component and the best part of it is the student-athletes will not miss any classes.”

Collegiate lacrosse is divided into regions across the country. Because there are limited programs in the southern United States, the region St. Andrews competes within stretches as far west as Colorado. The trip will enable the women to play against teams journeying from Pennsylvania and Colorado that are in our competitive region. The men will play against California universities that have traveled to Laurinburg annually the past several years to play St. Andrews.

To help with the fundraising, the men held their annual cow chip bingo last fall. An enclosed area is lined into small numbered squares; people donate money and pick one of the spots in the ring. The winner becomes the spot where the cow decides to leave a deposit.

Players for the women’s team sent solicitation letters to friends, family, and others to help raise money. The response was highly positive.

The women’s team members have already contacted St. Andrews alumni living in the Denver area.

“We’re having dinner with three families while we’re out there,” said Boswell. “The families who are hosting us for dinner are then coming to our games. Some of the alumni have asked us to bring them some items from our bookstore.

“The alums who have heard from us are surprised we’re making this trip. They’re so excited to know that St. Andrews is on the map with lacrosse.”

While in Colorado, St. Andrews will play Shippensburg University and Seton Hill University from Pennsylvania, and Regis University, the host of the games.

“This will be an incredible learning experience for our guys,” said Lawson. “They will be able to look back on their college careers in a highly positive way. They will be able to expand their horizons and learn more about our world.

“Our slogan ‘A College Where You Can’ is as appropriate as ever for our lacrosse team as it travels to California.”

While in California, the St. Andrews men will play the Dominican University and Notre Dame de Namur University.