MARCO ISLAND, Fla. - The Lesley University softball team had a memorable 2008 season. The team became conference champions to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time and several players earned conference and regional accolades for their tremendous play. But, lost in shuffle of all these achievements was a coaching milestone from Head Coach Jen Benway who earned her 100th career victory in the North Atlantic Conference Championship game.
Benway recently traveled down to Florida for the National Fastpitch Coaches Assocation's (NFCA) annual conference where she joined the Easton Victory Club which recognizes NFCA-member coaches that reach 100-win, 200-win, 300-win and beyond plateaus.
Benway reached this milestone on March 4, 2008 against UMaine-Farmington in the championship game of the NAC Championships. The Lynx won 6-1 and became the first Lesley athletic program to ever win the conference title in nine years in the NAC.
The softball team advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history, playing two regional games against Wellesley College and Rivier College.
The Lynx finished the season 30-12 marking not only the first time a Lesley softball team has accumulated 30 wins, but also achieving at least a 20-win season.
"While most of our wins have come in the last five years, this past season has certainly put our softball team on the map," says Benway. "I had no doubt that this program would be successful and it was only a matter of time. Sometimes it takes a player here and there to turn a program around."
Benway spends much of the summer and fall traveling to various showcases to find the next student-athlete who will make a difference for her program.
"As a coach, I feel fully supported by Lesley University and the athletic department to travel all over the U.S to recruit high-caliber softball players. We attract a different type of player now. These young women are successful in the classroom and they genuinely love the game of softball. All of them have played years of competitive softball from the time they were little girls and want nothing more than to continue their playing careers in college."
With a slew of veteran returning players and a championship under their belt, the Lynx are looking ahead to a highly anticipated spring season in a new conference.
"We are hopeful to build upon last year's success and I am excited to see what the 2009 season will bring us as we have set a goal to win the NECC championship."
To learn more about the Lesley University softball team, please visit their website.
Contact:
Rob Palardy
Sports Information Director
Lesley University
617.349.8627 (office)
617.349.8640 (fax)
rpalardy@lesley.edu