While lacrosse is a new sport to Wiliam Woods University's campus, the majority of the Owls' team have already been teammates, which gives them a leg up in Year 1. Leading them in their inaugural campaign is Seth Matlock, who comes to The Woods from Ottawa University, where he was coach from 2018-24 and was named the 2023 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

"It's a great opportunity," Matlock said. "Wouldn't have taken this job if I didn't think it was a good opportunity. I just feel like I was led here; this is just something that I feel is going to turn into something great. Yeah, it's going to be stressful. It is stressful starting a program, but it's a good stress. It's not anything that is bad or anything that I would take away. It's a learning experience, and it's professional development. But development, I feel like it's something that most coaches need to have on their résumé, and it just helps sharpen you a little bit, too. Opportunity to start a brand new program is something that many coaches don't get, and I felt like this was a great career move, and one that I couldn't pass up to - I couldn't say no."

From the moment they stepped on campus, the Owls' 19-player squad has been highly involved, participating in extracurricular activities such as Greek life to supporting fellow WWU athletic teams. Now, their peers will cheer them on throughout The Woods' six-game, five-on-campus, home schedule at the recently renovated North Campus Athletic Complex.

"It's a beautiful campus as a whole up there - it's a beautiful part of campus, too," Matlock said. "The development of the new dorm is going to be amazing. I think students can look out their window and oversee games. I think it's going to be incredible. The backdrop of having Junior Lake back there is a great scene. I can't say enough things about the beauty of campus and the opportunity."

While William Woods' administration provided Matlock the opportunity to be the one to take charge of the Year 1 program, he gave 10 of his players the chance to play lacrosse at Ottawa and now join him in Owls green and white.

"I think the opportunity to compete," Matlock said when asked why he decided to become WWU coach. "That's the athlete in all of us, just the option and the opportunity to go out there and compete and show what you've worked on, and watch all of the development that you put into this team and this program and these guys, just watch that flourish. I think that's really important. Team as a whole, I'm excited for this chance, from the coaches to the players, I think it's gonna be an unforgettable experience. Everyone's bought in, so we're excited about this.

"There's a lot of new, but there's also a lot of 'I know these guys.' I owe everything, at least in my success, to my coaches and my players, and I think that's important to share. Try to surround myself with good people, and they buy in. We have that good chemistry. I think that's important, and it definitely translates to the field as well."

Although Matlock played lacrosse, he truly found his love, passion and commitment to the sport while coaching it.

"It's a roller coaster of emotions at times coaching, but the opportunities to watch these players succeed both on and off the field is life-changing," Matlock said.

To become a head coach, connections and experience in the sport are generally necessary, and in turn, one can have mentors guide them during their journey. Matlock explained who those key individuals have been in his career path.

"So many people that I have to thank for getting me where I'm at," Matlock said. "A couple key ones that I can think of: Dan Britton was a good friend of mine and a colleague, and also Ward Kenny. We used to coach a team together, and I lost Ward a couple years ago. But, he was a good mentor, somebody that I could call in the middle of the night, somebody that would walk me through things - good, bad and ugly. He was just somebody that I could really rely on. I owe a lot of my success to him."

Speaking of success, William Woods will strive to earn that by trusting the process Matlock instils into his players.

"A lot goes into (lacrosse), breaking it down, fundamentals wins games," Matlock said. "Getting back to the fundamentals of lacrosse, there also must be a sense of trust up and down the chain of command. You got to trust your players, trust that they're utilizing the tools that you're teaching them. They just got to trust you to make the right decision for the team. 

"We've always taken the 'We above me' philosophy. I know that being a new sport, having a new program, there's plenty of players that are going to go out there and put their names in the record books. But, really and truly the biggest record that we want is a good win-loss record. Not everything is about winning, but these guys trust that process, and they're all about the team above me."

For Matlock, his emphasis with his players is not just about winning but also about building character.

"Obviously, winning games is always fun," Matlock said. "It helps morale, helps motivate. But it's not all about the wins and losses. My goal is to leave these young men better than I found them. Watching them walk across the stage for graduation is a really proud day for me personally. You always want to leave these young men better than when they got here. We get them in really good condition and shape, and we want them to leave better than we found them. I think that's really important for me."

With 11 upperclassmen, the Owls have plenty of leadership, which should bode well for them on the field this spring.

"Leadership (is our strength)," Matlock said. "We're not very deep this year, but I think what we lack in depth, we make up for in leaders. The chemistry with the guys, they've played together for years, and I think that's going to play a key role in this year's success."

What does WWU's roster look like for Year 1?

Beginning with goalie, Drew Stubblefield, will man the net for the Owls. Stubblefield is a freshman that attended Eureka, not too far from Matlock's alma mater, Parkway South.

"We've got a great goalie," Matlock said. "We believe in Drew and think he's going to go really far for us, or help us get to where we're trying to get to. He's just one of those natural leaders. He's one of those guys that's self motivated. You don't have to go out and get him excited. He's the one getting others excited. Just love having him on the team and being a part of this program. Can't say enough good things about him off the field, too. He's a great kid."

In front of Stubblefield, The Woods' defense is led by junior long stick midfielder (LSM) Chris Hanson and fifth-year senior defender Loren Woita, who both played under Matlock at Ottawa. With the Braves last season, Hanson tallied 19 ground balls - awarded when a player makes an interception - in 13 games (five starts) while Woita had 10 caused turnovers - given when a player controls the ball after contact - in 14 starts.

"We've got some leadership with some of the transfers we got," Matlock said. "Chris Hanson's looking really good at LSM. We've got some guys that transition from pole to shorty - short safety middie - that are helping us in many more ways than they know. Adding Loren Woita, obviously, he was a pole that has previously played for me and just expecting him to come back and find his role with us." 

The Owls also have a couple of freshmen in their defense, Landon Barker, a native of Springdale, Arkansas, and Kyle Fischer, who's from Omaha, Nebraska.

"Landon and Kyle, they're doing a terrific job of not only doing what we ask, helping the team out but just being sponges out there," Matlock said. "I know that we're throwing a lot at these young men, and so they're doing a terrific job of just soaking up all of that information and implementing it into day-to-day practices and then scrimmages and moving forward obviously games."

Moving further up the field, Woods has a veteran cast of players in the midfield, including senior Sam Snyder and juniors Ethan Newmyer and Jack Brackin, who all made the transition from Braves to Owls.

Brackin had a stellar campaign at Ottawa a year ago, posting 13 goals (team-high two game-winning goals), 12 assists, 48 shots (33 on goal), 14 ground balls and two caused turnovers in 14 contests off the bench. As Brackin's stats highlight, midfielders are asked to do a lot and cover tons of space as well.

"Our middies, those are our workhorses," Matlock said. "You rely on your defense to help your goalie out, not see certain shots. The same way goes on the offensive side for our midfielders. They're the ones that are working extremely hard to get themselves to draw an extra defender or draw a slide and to get the attack an open. 

"We've got some great ones. We've got some really physical middies. They've got great speed as well, and the IQ is there as well. So, we're excited about this midfield line. We've got a couple older guys there. They know the expectation and know what my expectation is, and willing to go out there and get the job done. Excited for these young middies."

With an attack of players that each go about their role in different ways, they should provide lots of excitement for Owls fans. 

Of them, Vinny De Marco stands out most, with him being the most decorated player on William Woods' inaugural roster as a two-time All-American (2023-24) and two-time KCAC Offensive Player of the Year (2023-24). Last season, De Marco paced Ottawa's offense with 84 points (49 goals and 35 assists) - 27 more points than any other Brave - 170 shots (102 on goal), 38 ground balls and 14 caused turnovers in 14 starts.

"Everything runs through Vinn," Matlock said. "I think other teams have picked up on that and know that. He's got some challenging days ahead. But, he doesn't back down to the challenge. The guy's got an incredible shot. He moves well off ball. He's just one of those guys that every team is jealous that they don't have, and so excited for him in the season and what's to come from him."

The Owls attack includes another Ottawa transfer in David Wiley. Joining De Marco in the Braves' talented attack last season, Wiley made second-team All-KCAC and registered 20 goals, 12 assists, 71 shots (40 on goal), 21 ground balls and seven caused turnovers over 14 games (10 starts). A new attacking teammate for De Marco and Wiley this season will be Lourdes University transfer, Xavier Dockery.

"We have the addition of Xavier Dockery," Matlock said. "We call him 'Doc.' Then, David Wiley, he is a Swiss Army knife. He's one of those guys that can do anything and everything on the field. We've got him playing attack. Strong, young, downhill type of guy. He's got a good step-down shot, too."

Turning the page to William Woods' schedule, the Owls' matchups against teams in the NAIA Coaches' Top 10 Preseason Poll or receiving votes are: No. 6 Indiana Institute of Technology (Saturday in Creve Couer), RV Siena Heights University (next Saturday in Adrian, Mich.), RV Lawrence Technological University (Feb. 23 in Southfield, Mich.), RV Saint Ambrose University (March 19 in Davenport, Iowa), No. 5 William Penn University (March 29 in Fulton) and RV Benedictine College (April 2 in Atchison, Kan.).

Those last three opponents are Heart of America Athletic Conference matchups. Despite being a first-year program, the Owls have been chosen to finish middle of the pack, fifth out of 10 teams in the Heart Preseason Coaches' Poll. Defending Heart champion William Penn is picked first with 80 votes, followed by Benedictine with 74, Saint Ambrose with 61, Missouri Baptist University with 49, William Woods with 46, Columbia College with 44, Clarke University with 39, Midland University and Ottawa with 23 and Missouri Valley College with 14.

"Just honored to be in the mix of things as a whole," Matlock said. "I think there's definitely some great programs in our conference. But, it's preseason, so just trying to keep things realistic as well and just understand that it's not how you start, it's how you end. But, appreciate the vote of confidence from some of the other coaches in the area and just the honor to be in the mix of things." 

Before worrying about conference play, all of the Owls' preparation will be put to the test for the first time when they host No. 6 Indiana Tech at 1 p.m. Saturday at Spartan Field in Creve Couer. Originally scheduled to be played at NCAC, WWU's season opener was moved to Spartan Field due to the forecasted weather conditions in Fulton.

"Anytime you get a crack at a top 10 team, it's exciting just to have that opportunity in front of you and make sure you're working towards trying to win that game and shake things up amongst the league," Matlock said. "Indiana Tech is definitely going to be a good matchup and test for sure - and see what we're made of."