One University of Dayton sports team just swept five games on their schedule this weekend and improved their record to 7-2.

It wasn't the softball or baseball teams, or any other intercollegiate sport teams. The impressive stats came from the women's club lacrosse team after a recent trip to Chicago and Miami University.

In Chicago, UD went up against Northwestern University, St. Mary's College, the University of Iowa and Western Michigan. The trip to the Windy City was a definite success as the team set a new UD lacrosse record, scoring 23 points against Northwestern and winning all four games.

After the great weekend in Chicago, the team came back to Ohio to play the University of Illinois at Miami. Even after the tough stretch, the women still came together to shut out the Illini, 5-0. Most importantly, the team grabbed a divisional league win to assist in the fight for a playoff spot.

The success of the women's team is quite impressive when one realizes that the program just developed during the spring of 2003. Some teams take numerous years to build up a reputation within their sport. Also impressive, the team has to contend with the difficulties of being a club sport.

The current president of the club, Colleen VanTiem, was also one of the founders of the program. Coming to UD her freshman year, VanTiem was told that a club lacrosse team did exist. However, realized that was no longer true.

'I went to rec sports in February 2003 and asked about it,' VanTiem said. 'There I was told that the team had just been dropped.'

But thanks to her love for the game and that of 15 other women, the club lacrosse team formed. The team started with four games that spring and has now developed a complete schedule through the Women's Collegiate Lacrosse League's A division.

This season the women's lacrosse team has 22 players on their roster. As a club team it is difficult for the dedicated members to schedule classes that correspond with practices. However, the women make it work and are still able to make practices four to five times a week and games on weekends.

'We aren't given any preference for class scheduling, so the girls are making every effort they can to schedule around practices or run to and from class just to make it part of practice,' VanTiem said. 'It's very difficult to play as a team when you aren't able to practice as a team everyday.'

The difficulties faced by the team have not stopped them from working to be the best. Most recently, the team added the assistance of their first coach to aid in preparation for a great season.

Eddie Clark recently agreed to help out the team. Also a collegiate athlete, Clark has coaching experience with the Great Lakes National Team and Sycamore High School in Cincinnati.

Although new to the team, Clark is already able to see the talent on the roster.

'They have a drive to win,' Clark said.

'It has been a lot of fun for me to coach such a great group of women. They needed little guidance and with that they have been very successful this year,' he added.

The stats of the team also reflect the great season. Merry Pesce leads the team in goals with 32 and Jenni Jacobs is second on the team with 16. Jacobs also leads the team with nine assists and Jenna Johnson has added seven. The women's roster is deep with twelve of the players having scored this season and 14 of the field players adding assists. Goalie Moey Babak has also played well with a .478 save percentage.

Now the Flyers will look to continue their season and impressive stats.With upcoming playoff-determining games against Ohio State and Ohio University, the team is diligently preparing to make a playoff run.

Three games are left on the schedule and the team is hoping to finish with a trip to the WCLL playoffs for the second year in a row.

'Making it to playoffs last spring was one of the greatest highlights of women's lacrosse at UD,' VanTiem added. 'We were able to walk away from playoffs knowing that we had reached a new level for UD and that teams from around the country were beginning to recognize the potential of our team.'

Already the women's club lacrosse team has established a great reputation and after the successful 2006 season is sure to continue to bring pride to the UD club lacrosse program for years to come.