Evelyn Perkins, sports editor 

The Augsburg women’s lacrosse team is making great progress as it continues to rebuild its program. I had the chance to sit down with head coach Hemie Collier this week to discuss the team’s morale and the program as a whole. He had nothing but positive things to say. One of the biggest joys he has had this season has been “seeing them come together. There are times they come to my office just to hang out. Their relationships show that we’re doing the right things around here.”

When I asked Collier about the identity he wants people to see when watching the team play, he focused on hard work and dedication to the game. “Win or lose, I want this program to be seen as a team that plays harder than anybody they play. A team that respects the game but fears no one.”

One player who embodies these characteristics is Breya Sawyer, a junior from Isle, Minnesota. When I asked Collier about Sawyer’s talents as a player, he said, “She works hard, is self-aware, and reflective. She’s one of those players who, when you give her a direction, she takes it in and implements it into the next rep or the next day. She’s a tough player to guard because she attacks and plays downhill. She’s the type of player who, once she smells blood in the water, she’s going to go for it.”

However, Sawyer’s skills are not limited to the field. When I asked Collier what she brings to the team that people might not see if they are just looking at the box score, he talked about how great a leader she is. “She has this willingness to give whatever she can for the team. She’s been a great leader and teammate because she truly cares for her teammates.”

On Feb. 24, Sawyer was named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Athlete of the Week after a stellar performance against Illinois Wesleyan. Sawyer ended the night with five goals and one assist for a six-point finish. When I sat down with Sawyer and asked her what it meant to receive the award, she gave much of the credit to her teammates. “It goes to show how much more our team, as a whole, is improving. It was a whole team effort,” Collier continued with a similar message, emphasizing how important it was for the program that she be recognized. “People outside the program and institution are seeing growth. They are seeing that Augsburg is moving in the right direction.”

Throughout our interview, Sawyer mostly kept the focus on her teammates and the impact they have had on her success. “They encourage me. We push each other more as a group. We call each other out when we need to. Everyone pushes each other harder, so that’s been very helpful.”

Through the first two games, Sawyer currently leads the team in points (seven), shots on goal (10), and shooting percentage (.600).

No matter the box scores, one thing remains clear: Augsburg women’s lacrosse has cultivated a positive team environment built on trust, communication, and sisterhood.