Chicago, Ill. - When head coach Emily Wesoky looks at her Illinois Tech women's lacrosse team, she doesn't see last year's limitations — she sees a group that's ready to surprise people. "I think that our team is really prepared," Wesoky said. "It's gonna be very different than last year. We're gonna have a lot better season. We have more girls on the roster, brought in some girls that have had a lot of experience, that have a lot of talent. The vibe is really high. They're all very excited. I think that some teams will be surprised by us."

For Wesoky, entering her second season as head coach, the foundation feels sturdier. The roster is deeper, practices are sharper, and the energy is unmistakable. After a year defined by grit and exhaustion — thin numbers, players learning on the fly, and constant adjustments — the Scarlet Hawks finally have the numbers and experience to match their ambition. This season, they aren't just trying to keep up. They're ready to compete.

A New Roster, a New Rhythm

The roster isn't just bigger — it's balanced. The Scarlet Hawks added standout newcomers across the field, including first-year Jenny Park from Texas, who trained at the renowned Hill Academy in Canada. "She has great experience, has learned from great coaches, and is our lefty player, only left-handed player," Wesoky said. "She will play down low lefty and will help out all over the attack."

First-year midfielder Ava Roll brings athleticism and versatility, and first-year Elise Wierzchon is transitioning from defense to an all-field role. "Ava's a super athletic midfielder. She'll be helping out on the draw, on offense and defense. She's really come a long way since the fall," Wesoky said. "Elise is very athletic, and I think that she has come a long way on offense. She was a full defender, so she's still learning, but she's gonna be a really strong defender on this team."

The Scarlet Hawks also gained a major boost in goal with the addition of junior transfer Samantha Gargiulo. "She transferred in this year from a Division I school (Detroit-Mercy)," Wesoky said. "She has really great field sense and helps lead our defense really well. She's really great on the clear and just has a lot of great skill. Our assistant coach, Shana (Hecht), has been helping her a lot. I think she'll be a big factor on this team."

Other newcomers include sophomores Paige McEnerny and Anastasiia Nahirna, and first-years Eliza Baron, Victoria Yancheva, Samantha Anderson and Ellie Wytko.

Returners Leading the Way

While the newcomers bring fresh energy, Illinois Tech's core veterans remain essential. Seniors Tony Martinez and Iona Pettigrew are back for their final season, joined by all-around junior midfielder Isabelle Nieber. "I'm looking for Toni and Iona to keep doing what they're doing and to keep improving," Wesoky said. "Having a lot of other depth and experienced players has helped them improve and be able to work well with other people and not feel the need to do everything on their own on the field, which has been great."

That balance is reshaping the offense. "We're doing a lot more on offense for Izzy and Toni," Wesoky said. "We have a lot more plays built in there that other people can contribute, so they aren't having to do everything on the field." Iona's speed and versatility add another layer. "She definitely has the speed to help bring it up the field," Wesoky said. "She's gonna be one of our key players again to help clear the ball and transition it to our offense."

With depth in place, practices have become more competitive and more productive. The team can simulate real-game scenarios, fine-tune special situations, and build chemistry in ways that simply weren't possible a year ago. That preparation, Wesoky believes, will show up when the whistle blows.

The team also returns juniors Aisha Leatherwood and Ellie Post, and sophomores Victoria Akirtava, Nayeli Samano and Aislinn McManus.

Identity and Ambition

The Scarlet Hawks have a new motto for the season: "Protect the Nest." It's a simple phrase, but it captures what Wesoky wants her team to embody — pride, accountability, and unity. "We set some team goals," she said. "We wanna go over 50% on shooting. We want to be at more than 50% on ground balls, draw controls — all of that. And then also, we are hoping to win more than one [conference] game. I think that's a very achievable goal. I think that we can win way more than one conference game this year, just with the depth and the talent that we have, and the motivation and the excitement that all of these girls have to play this season."

There's a stretch goal, too: reach .500 on the season. "I think that it might be a stretch, but we're reaching for it," Wesoky said. More than anything, she wants her players to embrace the challenge and enjoy the process.

This year, with a roster of experienced players and a clear direction, Wesoky feels more confident in her role. "As a coach, I've definitely learned how to handle certain situations and kind of manage my expectations," she said. "My biggest thing that I've learned as a coach for all of them — and for this type of school and the type of girls that are on my team — is I just want them to have a lot of fun. They are all in really tough, rigorous majors at this school, which is obviously a very hard academic school. They all work so hard academically and in all their other extracurriculars. So, obviously, lacrosse is a priority for them, which I always emphasize, but I always emphasize that we're building them as humans and for them to be successful women when they leave college, and hopefully lacrosse can help them with that."

Looking Ahead

With the season opener approaching, Wesoky is eager to see how her team measures up. The non-conference slate is designed to provide tests and opportunities — games where the Scarlet Hawks can learn, grow, and hopefully pick up wins. "We have a really good non-conference schedule," she said. "Some really good games that will be competitive for us, some games that I think we're gonna come out with some wins, and some games that will really challenge us to get us ready for the next games."

Within the conference, she knows the competition will be strong. "There's some really great teams in our conference," Wesoky said. "Lake Forest is a very strong team. Aurora has always been strong. I think that once we have depth, which we are getting there with, and have some talent, I think we can be competitive in it. I think that we definitely can beat a few of the teams that we lost to last year."

The message to fans, opponents, and anyone watching the Scarlet Hawks this spring is simple: this is a new team. "We are a full new team," Wesoky said. "People are gonna be surprised about us, and I think that teams should be excited to have a more competitive roster to play against this year.""