McKenzie Ryding remembers being on the ground, saying a few choice words and waving the trainers off as she winced in pain.

Ryding, a junior and team captain for the Oregon women’s lacrosse team, took a rough hit as a shot whipped right into her arm in a game that mattered the most for their season.

Ryding  didn’t want to leave the game, as a conference tournament win and potential trip to nationals was on the line.

Unfortunately for Ryding, the team fell that day to Western Washington 16-8.

Between losing seniors to graduating and many players battling injuries this year, the Oregon women’s club lacrosse team has certainly had its obstacles, Ryding said.

“It was a rough one this year, but it shows that our league is getting better and better,” Ryding said. “We just couldn’t beat all the odds.”

In her first year with the team, freshman Emma Juth from Hillsboro, Oregon agreed that the loss was disappointing.

“We were the team expected to win and we didn’t pull through,” Juth said. “Even though the year didn’t end the way we wish it would have — this was one of the best years because we became so close as a team.”

She added that she enjoyed becoming close with the team.

“I came to college and realized I didn’t want to give (lacrosse) up, but it was kinda nerve-racking at first,” Juth said. “It is always intimidating to be a freshman again, but the upperclassmen have been so supportive and made my transition so much easier.”

Another change to the team this season was the addition of coaches Katie Colasurdo and Cristen Shope.

Shope graduated this past June and is an alumni of the team. Ryding said that Shope’s presence has been helpful in this transitional year for the squad.

As a captain last season, Shope said that her previous leadership experience was vital in being a new coach.

“The biggest obstacle in becoming a coach from still being young, (is that) I am not that much older than the girls,” Shope said. “But I immediately got respect from the team.”

Juth said Shope’s age was nice because it made her more relatable to the team.

“It almost felt like she was one of us sometimes,” Juth said.

With one year under her belt, Shope is confident she will improve as a coach next year, along with the team.

“We have our feet under us now,” Shope said. “This year was a lot about working out kinks. There are high hopes for next year with key upperclassmen coming back.”

Shope said the team’s future is looking bright for next year, as she has received many emails from incoming players interested in playing, that have five to six years of lacrosse experience.

Ryding said looking at the bigger picture, she is happy in general with the growth of lacrosse in the Pacific Northwest. In addition, she added that teams are reaching out to play Oregon again — proving that Oregon is still considered competitive in their competitors’ eyes, despite their end of the season loss.

“A lot of people are going to come back looking to improve and get that redemption,” Juth said.