UMBC Escapes Blizzard for Romp at Jacksonville
by Jeff Elliott | Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online
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A Jacksonville women's lacrosse player carries up field during the Dolphins' debut game Saturday, an 18-2 loss to UMBC. © Gray Quetti |
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The foundation has been laid and it should be better times ahead for Jacksonville University's first-year women's lacrosse team.
The Dolphins, consisting almost entirely of freshmen, took their lumps in the first game in school history Saturday, as an experienced UMBC team hung an 18-2 pasting on JU in front off 1,043 fans at D.B. Milne Field.
Based on experience, the score should have been even more one-sided. JU's roster of 27 players includes 23 first-year players and just four upperclassmen compared to UMBC, a program that has played nearly 500 games over the years.
UMBC took advantage of some early Jacksonville jitters and notched their first goal just 32 seconds into the game. But the Dolphins settled down and played the Retrievers even for the next 14 minutes, with both teams scoring once.
JU's first goal in school history came at the 19:13 mark when Cassie Campasano scooped up a ground ball and fired past UMBC goalie Kate Quick.
The visitors picked up the pressure in the final 12 minutes of the first half, scoring five times, the last of which came in the final second of the half. That gave UMBC an 8-1 halftime lead.
"We were definitely nervous in the early going and had some jitters early on," said Campassano, one of the 23 freshmen who played for the Dolphins. "We had never been on the field with a crowd this big. But then we settled down and played better."
UMBC's crisp passing and attacking style was never better than in the first 14 minutes of the second half. The Retrievers used a pair of goals by Erika Braerman and Kristen Milligan in scoring seven times in that span to push their lead to an insurmountable 15-1 margin.
Jacksonville scored in the final minute of play when Carly Garrison scored an unassisted goal with 56 seconds remaining.
Despite the lopsided score, UMBC coach Kelly Berger praised JU's effort.
"Jacksonville's speed is phenomenal all over the field. The biggest thing about them however, is that they're excited about being out here," Berger said. "That's like the first and foremost thing you have to have -- kids that want to be out there playing.
"You can tell that from their play on the field, they really want to grow the sport here in Jacksonville, and that's what we need to help grow our sport at this level. You also need experience, and that will come in time. You can't ask for that right away."
JU showed improvement in several statistical categories from the first half to the second half. After losing 9 of 10 draws in the first period, JU won five 11 in the second half. The Dolphins were outshot 23-6 in the first 30 minutes but had just 10 fewer shots after that.
It wasn't the result that JU coach Mindy McCord had hoped for, but she said there were positive points for the team to build on for future games.
"I thought our goalkeeping had a solid effort in the cage and that we had some really good moments on defense," McCord said. "We just need to play more of an offensive game for 60 minutes to give a little break on the team on the defensive end.
"We're going to work on our offensive transition and find ways to put the ball in the net."
Berger summed up UMBC's feelings best when talking about the game that was played in sunshine and 61 degrees.
"We're facing a blizzard back home, so the girls were just glad to be here playing in the warmth and sunshine of Florida," she said. "They stayed focused and played as hard as they could so I'm proud of them for that."
