Neighbor News
Girls' Lacrosse Comes to the Oswego Area
It's no secret that girls' lacrosse is the next big thing, and now it's right at your front door.
We are witnessing a pivotal time for lacrosse in the Midwest. The boys’ programs continue to grow at an exponential rate, compared to most other sports. But the real game to watch is the girls’ game. Girls’ lacrosse is growing even faster than boys’ lacrosse and the trend shows no signs of slowing.
Recently, New Wave Lacrosse announced the addition of a Girls’ Program and briefly introduced you to Program Director Danielle Fiala. We sat down with Danielle and chatted about her accolades, her plans for the program, and the opportunities for growth in the girls’ lacrosse game. Let’s hear what she had to say…
NW: Give us some background on your lacrosse career.
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DF: Currently, I am the Head Coach at North Central College in Naperville. Before that, I was the Head Coach at Warburg College in Iowa from 2013-2015, where I started the DIII program, recruited 14 student athletes, and converted 14 athletes into lacrosse players (2/14 converted athletes made all conference second team). Before that, I played Division III Lacrosse at North Central College from 2010-2013 and was starting at attack/midfield. I was the all-time leading scorer for North Central with 165 career goals. I also led the team in Draw Controls during the 2010 and 2012 seasons and free-position goals in the 2012 season. In 2011, I was named to the MWLC All-Conference Second team and in 2012 and 2013, I was named to the MWLC All-Conference First Team. I was also named Offensive Player of the Year in 2012. Throughout and after college, I also coached for Benet Academy as an Assistant Varsity Coach, St. Francis High School as a Co-Head Coach for the Frosh/Soph Team, and at Xcelerate Nike Lacrosse Camps & Game Breakers Lacrosse Camps.
NW: Why did you choose to become a coach?
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DF: I chose to become a coach because of my coaches in the past that have left a long lasting impact on me. Being a coach is more than just blowing the whistle or shouting out commands on how to perfect the game. It is about being a mentor for young athletes to help them develop as better athletes and people.
NW: Why did you choose New Wave?
DF: Partnering with New Wave provides an great opportunity to build the women’s lacrosse game in the Naperville area. New Wave has created a product unlike any other lacrosse organization in the area and launching the girl’s side of the organization will provide the same type of product: quality lacrosse instruction, valuable coaching, and a fun environment in which to learn.
NW: Describe the upcoming skills programs.
DF: The upcoming skills program, Fast Break Academy, will be a great tool for anyone looking to improve their game! With the season approaching it is important to spend time working on the fundamentals. The time is divided in half (first half working on skills and the second half scrimmaging). Each week will have a different theme, based off of fundamentals, to help you get ready for your season. Whether you are looking to get experience playing or want to work on specific skills, Fast Break Academy is the perfect environment to help you get into the mindset of your upcoming season.
NW: What do you have in store for developing the girls’ program at New Wave?
DF: The potential for the girls’ program at New Wave is unlike any other. I look forward to developing the girls’ program to create similar opportunities that New Wave has created for the boys. This process will take time, but with the quality coaches and the right programs we will be able to achieve a high level of success.
NW: How bright is the future of girls’ lacrosse?
DF: The exciting thing is that the girls’ game is always evolving and changing! The girls’ game is actually growing faster at the collegiate level than the men’s which means there are more opportunities for girls to play collegiately across all divisions. I highly recommend reading this article about the strides that girls’ lacrosse has made and continues to make.
The Fast Break Academy starts in November at the newly built Naperville Yard Sports Complex. New Wave Lacrosse invites you to come out to this skills program and learn from Danielle. She has a passion for coaching and it truly shows. All skill levels are welcome.
