The Oakland University’s women’s lacrosse team kicks off their season with a game against the University of Michigan Feb. 7 in Ann Arbor. Practice is underway as the team aims for a national championship.

“We’re playing a very intense national schedule,” head coach Towbey Kassa said. “If we work hard and do what we’re supposed to do, there’s no reason why this can’t be our year that we win the national championship.”

Senior midfielder Desiree Messina was voted among peers and coaches as the WCLA Preseason Player of the Year.

“To be acknowledged by the league reassures me that my hard work has truly paid off,” Messina said. “I couldn’t have gotten this far or have worked this hard without the help of my teammates.”

The Grizzlies have won six straight straight division championships, dating back to 2007. This season, they’ll try to secure their fifth straight Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse League (WCLL) Division II Championship.

Oakland heads into the 2013 season ranked number six in the Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse Associates (WCLA) standings.

“It’s a good stepping stone,” Kassa said. “I think it’s kind of where we want to be.”

The team’s second game of the season isn’t until March 7 when they take on Wayne State at home. After that match up, Oakland will play eight home games in a row. Coach Kassa said there is a reason behind the long home stretch.

“As we progress as a team, we’re noticing more teams want to travel to Oakland,” Kassa said. “We’re able to showcase our team to high schools so they can see what we’re about.”

According to Coach Kassa, the home games in March will prepare the team for the tough games they’ll play in April.

One of their biggest rival games comes April 4 against Michigan State University. It’s a home game for Oakland where the teams will compete for the Battle of the Brown Jug. “We want all of our fans to come out for that one,” Kassa said. “It’s going to be a blackout game.”

After the nine game home stretch, Oakland will travel to Toledo, Ohio, to play Indiana, West Virginia and Central Michigan. The following week is the Pomerstone Classic in Martinsville, Va.

“We have set a lot of new rules in place for this season, and I believe this on top of off season training have been a big part of our preparation for the upcoming season,” Messina said. “Everyone has been working really hard before the season starts both mentally and physically, and there’s nothing more we could ask of the team. I think we’re in great shape for the upcoming season.”

The WCLL Championship will be held April 20-21 at Ohio State University. The WDIA Division 2 Championship takes place May 9 in Colorado Springs.

“The girls are coming back (from the offseason) strong,” Kassa said. “They are playing together, enjoying themselves and looking forward to playing hard. The coaching staff likes what they see.”