Power Players: Colby's Perfect Match
by Jac Coyne | Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff
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| According to Karen MacCrate Henning, player of the year
candidate Kate Sheridan is trusting her teammates more this season,
allowing her to have more assists than goals for the first time in
her superb career. © Jeff Earickson |
When Karen MacCrate Henning took the Colby women's job two years
ago, she was very comfortable with her decision. She loved the
area, the school, the program and her peers.
There was just one thing she had a question about.
A name kept popping up when she talked to other players and
coaches about her new team. It was a frustrating time for Henning,
because she had no way of tracking down a person to go with
the name.
"I kept hearing about Kate Sheridan, but I had no idea who she
was," said Henning. "I had the stats and what the people said about
her, but I didn't know her."
She didn't know her because shortly after Henning was hired,
Sheridan - who has been arguably the White Mules' best player since
she arrived on campus in 2006 - left for her junior semester abroad
in Cork, Ireland.
Not that Henning would have been able to see Sheridan play until
the spring. New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC)
rules prohibit fall ball and limit the amount of time coaches can
spend with players in the offseason.
But it would have been nice to put a name with a face.
As it turned out, the wait was well worth it.
"When she came in my office the first time and was sitting on the
chair, I kind of realized that she had something," said Henning.
"She was competitive the minute she walked through the door. It was
a ‘what are we doing and when are we doing it' kind of thing.
She was ready to go from the beginning."
Little did Henning know, Sheridan was going through the same
process across the pond.
"I got feedback from the girls about what they could make of her,
but they hadn't met with her as a coach lacrosse-wise," said
Sheridan. "It was very nerve-racking not having met the coach
coming in, because you don't know what to expect."
And Sheridan's take of the first sit-down meeting with
Henning?
"I was really impressed. She is a tremendous coach, particularly
with her knowledge of the game," she said. "It is nothing like what
I've seen out of a coach before, so I was excited to have her as a
coach for two years."
The relationship has quickly produced results. After an
up-and-down start to the 2008 season, Colby became the first
non-Middlebury team to capture the NESCAC championship, while
Sheridan was named a first team All-American and league player of
the year. The natural development has continued with Colby emerging
as a national power this spring, knocking off then-No. 1-Salisbury
and then-No. 5 Middlebury in the span of four days on its way to a
current No. 3 ranking.
And Sheridan is the leading candidate for national player of the
year honors.
Henning believes Sheridan's success directly translates into the
growing reputation of the White Mules, which was limited to that of
second tier, albeit dangerous, program.
"It's easy to have other players grow and learn when the player
they look to is doing that and not satisfied," said Henning. "When
you have your hardest working player getting the most recognition,
it makes a coach's job a lot easier."
While Sheridan deserves the bulk of credit, Henning's ability to
seamlessly transition into a new program and culture shouldn't go
without its due.
After posting a record of 103-21 and winning two NCAA Division II
championships in eight years at C.W. Post, Henning has proven that
her methods work. As such, she could have walked onto the
Waterville, Maine, campus and started instantly molding the team
into her vision of a winner.
Instead, out of respect to the players and the previous coach,
Henning took a more subtle approach.
"She was very responsive to the things we wanted to keep as
traditions that we've always had," said Sheridan. "She was very
careful about that and intertwining her own coaching style with our
program. It was fortunate, because we have a pretty strong [senior]
class and we've all contributed significantly since our freshmen
year, so I think that helped being on the same page."
As if taking a page from Henning's adaptability, Sheridan has
nuanced her game.
The leader in goals her first three seasons at Colby, Sheridan has
also added playmaker to her resume. She again paces the squad in
goals with 22, but also has a 33 assists - 26 more than any other
player White Mule player.
It marks the first time in Sheridan's career she has had more
assists than goals.
"She trusts her teammates," said Henning. "When she's not scoring
goals, she trusts her teammates to step up and do it. She helps
make those players around her that much better."
Judging by the 9-1 start and national ranking, it appears the team
has entrusted Henning with its success.
"Karen is always giving us the confidence," said Sheridan. "She
has had the confidence and the faith that we can beat any team no
matter what game we're going into as long as we play our game.
Having that behind us is tremendous."
It's hard to believe the player and coach were once worried about
being on the same page.
