Like other female lacrosse players, there were not many options for Dana Dobbie a Fergus native, to continue to play the game after graduating university.
This year, however, she was one of 80 women selected to play for the inaugural United Women’s Lacrosse League with Baltimore Ride. The league, which is female owned and operated, was launched by United Women’s Sports in collaboration with Play it Forward Sport Foundation in Boston.
Dobbie, 31, who played twice on the Canadian team for the International Federation of Women’s Lacrosse Associations world cup, was second in the league for scoring in the season.
“It … was a pretty special opportunity,” said Dobbie. She had just competed in the championships on July 30 and 31, where Baltimore placed third.
Dobbie explained that after university there are not many options for female players. She started her lacrosse career playing for the Fergus Thistles, then for Orangeville before playing at the university level in the United States.
“If you’re lucky, you have the opportunity to play for your country and compete in the world cup, but that’s only every four years, so once you graduate college there’s really no platform for you to continue to grow within your own game,” she said.
“You lose so many incredible athletes because there’s no platform for them to continue to play and a reason to continue to play.”
Between her full-time job as an assistant coach for the lacrosse team at Loyola University, practices and playing, Dobbie said it was a challenge.
“The biggest challenge is just the logistical price and trying to figure out how to get to the game, how can you get back to work, and then just not complaining about it but appreciating the opportunity and just making sure you can make it all work,” she said.
In comparison, the men’s league has practice and travel days apart from game days.
“It’s just a lot more money and support that they’ve already been through those headaches and those growing pains themselves. Hopefully we’ll get there with a little bit more support,” said Dobbie.
She will be trying out again for the Canadian team for the next world cup, which is to be held in Guildford, England next year.
