Women's Lacrosse | 3/13/2009 10:50:03 AM

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - On Saturday, former Methodist lacrosse player Lindsey West will take on her alma mater as the head coach of Shenandoah University.

West played for the Monarchs from 2003-06 scoring 182 goals and breaking the school record for career goals. She currently ranks second in career goals, career assists and season goals while she is tied for the program record in points and goals in a game and holds the Methodist record for assists in a game. During her tenure at Methodist, she was a three-time USA South First Team All-Conference selection and named USA South Player of the Year in 2006. She capped off her career earning First Team All-Region honors and ranked ninth in the nation in points per game with 5.93. West went on to graduate in December 2006 with a degree in Physical Education.

Methodist first announced the addition of women's lacrosse in the spring of 2000 in preparation for the first varsity season in the spring of 2002. West was a part of just the second recruiting class as she helped the Monarchs through the early stages of the program's development. In 2004, West was an integral part of the team that captured a USA South regular season co-championship. Her senior year, the Monarchs won 11 games, the most in Methodist history.

West co-captained the 2006 team which included freshmen Kelsie Britt and Andrea DiStefano. Now seniors, Britt and DiStefano learned in June they would have an opportunity to face their former teammate when West was hired by Shenandoah. Britt will be unable to make the trek to Winchester, Va. due to academic commitments, but DiStefano is eager to play West this weekend.

“I loved playing with Lindsey West,” DiStefano said. “She was the player I looked up to the most. She was determined and motivated both on and off the field. I am so glad she is coaching now because I feel more people need to know and see what she can do.”

West opened her inaugural season earlier this month picking up her first win as a head coach Mar. 5. Many are anticipating Saturday's game to see West at a Methodist game in red and blue, but West is more excited about the start of conference play. “The biggest thing about Saturday is it's a USA South game,” West said. “Shenandoah has only beat Methodist once and we're coming in as the underdog according to the preseason poll. It would be a huge win for us.”

The Monarchs were 4-1against Shenandoah while West was in a Methodist uniform. She scored 16 goals and notched 10 assists in the five games. In West's final game against Shenandoah, DiStefano was defending the Methodist net as the goalkeeper making 12 saves in the 18-4 Monarch victory. “It will be interesting to see Andrea as an attacker because when I played with her, she was our goalkeeper,” West added.

While it could have been West's Shenandoah Hornets shooting on her former goalkeeper, DiStefano has transitioned to attack and leads the Monarchs with 17 goals this season. “I am really excited to play [West's] team as our first conference match,” DiStefano said. “It will be great seeing Lindsey again and all that she has accomplished!”

Methodist and Shenandoah will face off on Saturday at Sprint Field at Shentel Stadium at 12 pm.