The Ohio Northern women's lacrosse team has high expectations entering the 2018 season.

Third-year head coach Beth Hemminger welcomes back nine starters and 12 letterwinners from last year's injury-plagued squad that went 3-13 overall and 2-6 in the Ohio Athletic Conference.

The Polar Bears played games with as many as six starters sidelined by injury last year, but Hemminger believes the added experience for the younger players will pay off this season.

ONU will field an experienced and more talented team than in past years, providing a high level of optimism entering the 2018 campaign.

Schedule

The Polar Bears open their 2018 season with a road game at Hiram and will open the home portion of their schedule on Feb. 24when Trine (Ind.) comes to Dial-Roberson Stadium.

Northern will then play at Wooster on March 1 and will face Carthage (Wis.) and Sewanee (Tenn.) during spring break at Sewanee March 5 and 7.

ONU will return home for games with Cleary (Mich.) and Siena Heights (Mich.) on March 10 and 15 before wrapping up the non-conference schedule with a road game at Albion (Mich.) on March 21.

The Ohio Athletic Conference schedule will begin March 30 at Mount Union.

The Polar Bears will host Wilmington on April 4, Heidelberg on April 11, Baldwin Wallace on April 14 and Capital on April 28 in OAC play.

Other league road games are at Muskingum on April 7, John Carroll on April 21 and Otterbein on April 25.

The OAC Tournament will be May 2-5.