Keene State’s Women’s Lacrosse Captain Haile Ratajack has led the Owls to a winning record and has broken a few records along the way.
Ratajack is a fifth-year senior out of Brewster, N.Y., and has used her opportunities to make her mark here at Keene State. On April 1, Ratajack was named Owl Athlete of the Week by the Keene State Athletic Department and was also recognized by the Little East Conference (LEC) as she climbed the record books this season.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ratajack lost a lot of her time on the field, only playing 13 games in her first two years. Her choice to use a year of eligibility has bode well, as she has recorded at least 58 goals in each of the last two seasons and is on track to hit 60 this season. Currently, Ratajack leads the team in goals and is second in the LEC conference.
“I felt like COVID took a lot away from my college career. Almost half of my college career was shortened by COVID and I took the opportunity to get that back.” Ratajack said.
Aside from Ratajack’s record-setting offensive statistics, she also uses her ability as a midfielder to show off defensive skills. Last season, she recorded a conference-leading 56 turnovers and this season is second in the conference, right behind her sophmore teammate Tess Brown.
Ratajack’s coach, Travis Wyant, attributes his captain’s success to her love of the game and her dedication.
“The kid loves lacrosse. She has a wall that she uses for wall ball that her dad has told her to stop using because she’s beaten it up so badly,” Wyant said. “Haile is the kind of kid to take those extra minutes, reps, and sessions.”
The Owls thrive off of her abilities on the field but are also connected by Ratajack’s presence as a captain. According to Ratajack, her experience as a three-year captain has allowed her to understand her role as captain fully.
“I think it means more than just being on the field and telling people what to do, which is a common misconception,” Ratajack said. “I am also available off the field as a friend, which can help a lot of people connect with me on the field.”
Wyant is in his first year as the official head coach for the program and is grateful for the help Ratajack has added to lead the team.
“Haile is a lead-by-example type of person, and it’s almost like we have an additional coach that happens to be on the field,” Wyant said. “She does a lot for production on the field, but she also helps coach a lot of our student-athletes through whatever defense or offense we are in.”
That type of effort mentioned by Wyant has put Ratajack in the position to break the Keene State women’s lacrosse goal record. On Saturday, April 6, Ratajack scored five goals in the Owl’s win over Rhode Island College. Those five goals were enough for Ratajack to tie the all-time leader in goals for women’s lacrosse at Keene State. The record has been held by Keene State Hall of Famer Michelle Mason since 2005.
Ratajack has already broken the Owl’s record for most ground balls, as well as the record for turnovers. Additionally, she made the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association All-Region Second Team for the second time in her career last season.
Ratajack refuses to slow down as the Owls continue their season with a playoff entrance on the horizon. She has tied the goal record and is on track to break several more including free position goals, and even overall points.
The Keene State Women’s Lacrosse team is set to play Western Connecticut in their Senior Day on Saturday, April 13, following an 18-0 victory where Ratajack broke the goal record.
Jacob Enscoe can be contacted at
jenscoe@kscequinox.com
