When Mikaela Buoscio decided to play lacrosse at the collegiate level, she was looking for a great coaching staff and team culture, and Elon University fit the bill.
“Sports is a huge part of my life and I wanted to continue that for four more years, if I had the chance,” Buoscio said.
The sophomore midfielder is one of 32 players on the Elon University lacrosse team ready to kick off the spring season this Friday, as the team takes on the University of Virginia at Rudd Field.
Elon last played the Cavaliers in 2019, losing at home 11-4. Despite the history, head coach Josh Hexter said the team is practicing to play its best, not based on the opponent.
“Regardless of the opponent we play, we have to do what we do and do it really well,” Hexter said. “We don’t necessarily concern ourselves with the name on the chest of who we're playing. We concern ourselves with competing at the highest level possible that we can compete at.”
Heading into the season, Elon is projected to finish fifth in the Colonial Athletic Association, as ranked by the conference’s preseason poll. The poll was conducted by CAA women’s lacrosse coaches and placed James Madison University as the pre-season favorite, followed by Drexel University, Towson University and Hofstra University. Elon sits ahead of University of Delaware and College of William & Mary in the poll.
Hexter said the team’s overall goals are to win both the national championship and the CAA championship, something Elon has never accomplished before. The team has not received a bid for the NCAA tournament since 2017.
“The goal every day is to embrace our competitive drives and try to get better every day, try to be the best version of yourself every day, and try to satisfy that curiosity that we have out in the field, and to really give each other our best,” Hexter said.
Both Buoscio and senior midfielder Gillian Curran were selected as part of the preseason all CAA team, as well. Curran was a preseason all CAA honorable mention in 2021 and ranked ninth in the conference. This year the senior was tabbed as an all-conference team member and Buoscio was named an honorable mention.
As a sophomore, Buoscio said her biggest challenge last year was the transition from high school athletics to the collegiate level. The midfielder played in 11 games last season, including starting in the opening round of the CAA championship.
“I haven’t been on a team where people put in this much work,” Buoscio said. “It makes it really easy to come before practice or stay half after … It's just spending time with my teammates while also putting in the extra work.”
Buoscio said as she prepares for the season, she is looking forward to participating in more out of state contests. The Phoenix have six road games this season, including one at Virginia Tech — where new additions to the women’s lacrosse coaching staff are from.
Announced in the fall, Amanda Mozier and Taylor Caskey joined Hexter for the spring season as assistant coaches. Both Mozier and Caskey previously worked at Virginia Tech, and Caskey played on the Hokies for four seasons, as well. The Phoenix will face off against the Hokies on the road in March.
Buoscio said as the team gears up for Friday, she hopes the student body will come out and support their fellow Phoenix at Rudd Field.
“The lacrosse team has been working really, really hard,” Buoscio said. “We're gonna do something special this year.”