On the morning March 2, 2012 we stood in the cold snowy parking lot and loaded our gear onto the bus that was scheduled to take us to Long Island. There was a different mood and energy this morning because it was a GAME DAY and the 2012 season was finally upon us. Once we set foot on that bus there was no turning back. The preparation phase was over. Our first opponents would be waiting when we got off the bus in Long Island. Our trip was jam packed with action as it would consist of three games in three days against three strong Long Island teams: CW Post, Dowling, and Queens College.
Playing games on consecutive days was both mentally and physically challenging but we focused on one game at a time. Being able to start the season with non-conference games is great way to get game experience and try new things before conference play. Fortunately for us, we experienced all different types of scenarios this weekend. After opening up against one of the best teams in the country in CW Post, we learned a lot about where our strengths were and where we still needed work.
Finishing with a 1-2 record on the weekend, we gave everything we had in a big win against a nationally ranked Dowling team followed by a tough loss less than 24 hours later at Queens College. Playing three games in a row really tested the character of our team. Not only were we tested with a rigorous schedule, but spring break is also a crucial time for team bonding. Between the long bus rides and staying in the hotel we were able to just be together as a team with no outside distractions. Whether we were winning or losing our team support was always there picking each other up on and off the field. This support is what pushed us through the long weekend. Ultimately, we won, lost, and learned together and for those experiences it was a successful weekend and a great testament to what our future as a team could be.
We left Long Island and headed home to New Hampshire ready to start preparing for conference play. Our first conference test came the following Saturday against another ranked opponent in Merrimack College. We had to change gears from spring break in the sense that we were preparing all week for only one game as opposed to three. Playing a full 60 minutes would be crucial in order to be successful against a talented Merrimack team. Unfortunately some turnovers and an early run by Merrimack put us down at halftime. After making some changes and playing hard until the last whistle blew, we were able to make an attempt at a comeback. Unfortunately, we came up short, settling with a final score of 14-11. Losing a close conference is game is always tough but overall it was a good learning experience.
We quickly had to put the loss behind us and start preparing for our next game against another nationally ranked opponent in Molloy College, who we would play that Tuesday. This game was our home opener and there was a different level of excitement than we had experienced so far. This was our first official game on our new turf field and we wanted nothing more than to break in the new field with a win.
In past years, having only a grass field prevented us from having home games early in the season. We were ready to have some home field pride and play in front of our fans for the first time all season. The word to describe this roller coaster ride of a game is BATTLE. The game lasted over two hours with a combined 37 goals being scored. There were multiple lead changes so every possession and 50/50 ball held high importance. This was a game of high intensity and emotion but we were able to keep our composure and play our game to come out on top with a 19-18 victory – another big win for us and a great way to open up on our home turf.
Next on the schedule was our second conference game against American International College. We traveled to Springfield, MA on an unseasonably warm Saint Patrick’s Day for a 12pm game. Still on a high from the Molloy game, we were ready to earn our first conference win of the year. The game started off a little shaky on our end with some back and forth scoring and lead changes but we were able to go on an eight-goal run to give us a five goal lead at the half. We came out firing in the second half and were able to pull out a solid team win, with 10 different players recording points. AIC mounted a late comeback but we were able to hang on for our first conference win of the year.
We are now six games into the season and there is still a lot of lacrosse season left to be played. From the scores seen around the country in Division 2 so far, there is so much talent this year and on any given day, any team can win. It has been a very competitive and challenging start for us with four of the six teams we played being nationally ranked. However we have gotten some valuable game experience, and it’s evident that we are now learning to play together and battle through anything as a team. Our season is just getting started and our goal is still to keep improving every day.
Northeast-10 Women's Lacrosse 