University of Massachusets Athletics
Future Is Bright For UMass Women's Lacrosse
May 08, 2006 | Women's Lacrosse
May 8, 2006
Every now and then there comes a team that is encouraging in play before play even begins.
Bear with me.
April 28 was supposed to be the day to end all days for the Massachusetts women's lacrosse team. With their backs against the wall and one more loss equaling certain doom, the Minutewomen's 4 p.m. home matchup with Duquesne had all the importance of, for all intents and purposes, a fourth-quarter Super Bowl drive. A save opportunity in Game 7. An inbound pass with less than 10 seconds to go in the playoffs.
The Dukes, based on superb defense, were the favorites to spike the punch on a day that was celebrating the final home game of four seniors. With an Atlantic 10-low eight goals allowed per game to solidify their winning records both in and out of conference play, it was their game to lose as much as the Minutewomen.
Whoever won was in. Whoever lost was out.
It was as if the game was being played in an oven.
An announcement on the loudspeaker at a men's lacrosse game a few days prior even described this game using words such as "pivotal" and "monumental."
Yet here were the Minutewomen on the sidelines, doing something just about unthinkable for a team with 17 underclassmen to be doing - dancing.
A fast-paced funk beat blared over the loudspeakers, prompting a handful of players to straddle their sticks and gyrate their hips, imitating the moves of a cowboy.
The Dukes stood. And stood. And stood.
The beat played on. The singer sang on. The ladies danced on.
"Jump on it, jump on it, jump on it, jump on it..."
It was like Bugs Bunny kissing Elmer Fudd, or the T.C. Williams Titans singing in unison during warm-ups. The Minutewomen approached this, the most important game of the year, with a free-spirited attitude like they've been here a million times.
And they jumped on it, jumped on it, jumped on it, pulling off an amazing 11-10 overtime win after being down four goals with 10 minutes to go in regulation.
But after the grueling non-conference schedule the Minutewomen have endured this year, any moment is a moment to let loose and break out into a dance. They played four teams that were ranked at the time (Boston University, Dartmouth, Syracuse, Boston College), and a fifth one, Hofstra, is currently ranked No. 17 in the latest polls.
Anyone, anywhere, anytime. Sound familiar?
The youth-laden UMass ladies lost every single one of those games, were sitting at 3-7 heading into A-10 play, and lost their first two conference games to two more talented teams (No. 11 Richmond, St. Bonaventure), but something finally caught on. They fought close with most of these teams before bowing out late, which meant everything when it came down to the wire.
Couple the big-game experience with how much they've jelled as a team and fed off of each other, and you have a game. The fun team won. The momentum from that comeback victory bowled over into the final regular-season game two days later, where they handled George Washington in another one-goal nail-biter.
Why need all this be mentioned?
Because it's the beginning of good things to come. Very good things.
After losing to Richmond in the first round of the A-10 Tournament on Friday, ending a UMass run in which they had won four of five heading in, UMass coach Carrie Bolduc said that she plans on booking another schedule loaded with top-notch programs. Having experienced such a tough schedule for such a young team, expect a few upsets.
And while senior Kerri Connerty will be missed sorely on the attack - she concludes her tenure at UM with 131 career points, eighth-best all-time - she will be made up for without problem. The Minutewomen return nine starters, including sophomore Kathleen Typadis and freshman Kayt McCormick - who together accounted for more than a third of the scoring.
"It's remarkable how much potential there is on this team. It's awesome," Bolduc said. "I think the girls really recognize that - you saw how well we finished the season - they really know what they're capable of."
In fact, the only problem heading into next year might be who will be starting in goal. Junior Lauren McCarthy and sophomore Krissy Anderson shared time between the pipes, with McCarthy starting 13 games and Anderson five, and always came in to bail the other out when they were struggling. Freshman Jamie Whiteway, an All-American while at Billerica High, didn't see a minute of action this year and will retain a year of eligibility. The fall exhibition season might help shape the decision of who to start.
A return to .500 form is a safe bet, but one thing is clear: Bolduc is exuberant about these ladies.
"I love working with these girls," she said. "They really believe in the program. They're great athletes, great competitors, totally believe in women's lacrosse. We really can beat anyone now; we know we can compete with anyone."
Player profiles in several game programs throughout the season have a player saying they would like to play a team like Northwestern, who is currently ranked No. 1, to see what they can do against a top-ranked team.
You say it's all coach-speak, but don't think for a second that the thought hasn't seriously crossed their minds.
One thing is for certain: come 2007, the Minutewomen will be fully stocked, foaming at the mouth and rearing to go.
And whoever it is they're going against - name the time and place - they're going to jump on it, jump on it, jump on it.