Bryan Cole / The Collegian Online

The Fresno State lacrosse team is heading to UC Davis this weekend to try to earn the program̢۪s first ever win.

“We’ve had some really good training days and that has been a key to helping us get prepared for Davis,â€Â head coach Sue Behme said.

As a new team, the Bulldogs have not only had to work on team unity, like any other team, but also on simply learning the game.

Consequently, many of the mistakes the team continues to make are simple, basic and easily fixed.

The three main focuses for the Bulldogs heading up north Saturday are controlling draws, capitalizing on offensive opportunities and forcing a lower percentage of shots.

“We have been working hard on defense and reacting in the backfield and making better transitions,â€Â said Kristen Hoska, a senior first-year lacrosse player. “We have improved a lot in becoming more of a team and a unit.â€Â

Tighter offense strategy against Aggies

While the ̢۪Dogs have been working hard to improve their defensive abilities, they are also striving to gain confidence on the offensive side.

Taking more shots and not hesitating on open opportunities will be something they can look to improve upon.

“We are going to be taking a lot more shots and capitalizing on shooting opportunities,â€Â said Hoska. “We are going to work on communication and not allow them to be wide open.â€Â

The Aggies, who are 1-1-1 on the season, just came off a narrow 14-13 win over Saint Mary̢۪s in double overtime.

Before they play host to the Bulldogs, UC Davis faces off against Stanford tonight.

Jack scores historic goal

Fresno State hopes to have better luck against UC Davis than its previous three opponents.

The team opened its season with a 19-0 loss to Cal Berkley at Bulldog Stadium but enjoyed the positive fan support and the atmosphere of the newest sport to be brought into the Central Valley.

After suffering the home loss, the ̢۪Dogs went on two straight road trips.

The first game was held at Stanford on Feb. 12, where the Cardinal, who is ranked No. 18 in the national ranks, beat Fresno 20-1.

But 20 wasn̢۪t the number that meant the most. Instead, it was the one.

That one represents the first goal to ever be scored in the program̢۪s history, and Heather Jack was the one able to claim the honor.

“That was something that I will never forget,â€Â said Hoska. “At that moment we were all just so happy and knew that we were going to be able to do this.â€Â

Jack simply carried the ball up the crease of the field and laid it in past Stanford goalkeeper Annie Read.

Behme striving for ‘the next level’ of play

While scoring the first goal was an exciting milestone for the team, there were many little things Behme was happy with as well.

She felt that her team did a good job causing turnovers, especially since Stanford is such a tough opponent.

After the loss, the ̢۪Dogs traveled to Denver and suffered another 20-1 loss, but this time to Canisius College.

The team complied six shots on goal, but it was senior Molly Sovacool̢۪s shot that was to score.

In that game Behme didn̢۪t feel her team played to the best of their abilities.

“We struggled,â€Â said Behme. “We played below the level we should have but it was a good learning experience.â€Â

The ̢۪Dogs aren̢۪t expecting to win many games this season but have yet to be discouraged.

Focusing on developing the program, improving upon specifics and finding their individual roles is what the team is narrowing in on.

“Right now we are at a point that it was so much fun to be the first lacrosse team here,â€Â said Behme. “But now we can’t live in that thought. We need to go to that next level and challenge ourselves.â€Â