The end of winter can only mean one thing; it’s about time to go back outside and enjoy some spring sports.

With that being said, NIU lacrosse is about ready to start their 2012 season.

Last season, NIU (9-4) finished in fourth place in the Great Lakes Lacrosse League.

Heading into this year, David Jasper, NIU lacrosse President and junior defenseman, said the team can improve on its fourth place finish from a season ago.

“My expectations, I guess, are set pretty high based off last year, since we finished fourth in the GLLL,” Jasper said, “This year we’re just looking to finish first.”

Jasper said the Huskies’ offense will need to stay productive, similar to how they performed last season.

”In the fall of this year, we did pretty good, and our offense was clicking and everybody was looking good,” Jasper said, “So now with the practices we’ve been having as of late, and with the talent we have on our team, I see no reason why we shouldn’t be able to go win it a all.”

This past October, NIU hosted the 24th annual NIU Fall Classic Lacrosse Tournament, where it finished third. Sophomore attackman Mike Walczak said a lot can be gained from that third place finish.

“Well, we got all the same guys coming back and then some, so I think that chemistry is still going to be there,” Walczak said. “I think the guys that are coming in now for the spring will give us the boost. We need to be the number one.”

Mitch Gunn, junior midfielder and NIU lacrosse vice president, said its stacked with young talent this season.

“They’re a pretty good group of talented young men,” Gunn said. “I’d say that our defense is like the core of our team for the moment. They’re great leaders and they’re great players.”

The Huskies start their season on March 24 with a pair of home games against Loyola and Holy Cross. The following week, the Huskies will travel Macomb to take on Western Illinois and Drake.