March 14, 2007

by Jac Coyne, Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff

Kate Perine officially received word she would be the interim women's lacrosse coach at Trinity College last June, filling in for the sabbatical-bound Kara Tierney. The opportunity to gain experience with a high-caliber program was exciting, but Perine knew it wouldn't be easy.

Not only would she have to remold a team that finished 5-9 and in eighth place in the NESCAC, but Perine's first game would involve a five-hour trip to Waterville, Maine -- not exactly an early March vacation destination -- to face conference rival Colby. The White Mules, an NCAA participant in '06, were ranked seventh in the country and boasted Lacrosse magazine's Preseason Player of the Year, Allie Libby.

While the job title is new, Perine is no stranger to the rigors of the NESCAC. A four-year letterwinner and captain for Middlebury ('03), Perine had already spent two years on Tierney's staff as an assistant, giving her a keen insight into Colby's intentions. In the weeks prior to this past Saturday's game, the Bantams narrowed their focus to the nuances of the White Mule operation.

"We spent a lot of time on what to expect. We wanted to be prepared for their zone and really try to force them to play as a team to score on us," Perine said, sounding every bit the seasoned coach. "I think it played to our strengths that they try to assist on their goals. By playing a zone ourselves we were able to make them drop some passes in the eight-meter, and we did a really nice job of coming up with the ball in those scenarios."

The result was a stunning, 10-7 victory for the Bantams -- the biggest upset of this young Division III season.

Trinity allowed a pair of quick strikes by Colby to open the game, but Perine's troops countered with seven unanswered markers to take a 7-3 halftime lead they would never relinquish. Senior captain Lauren Malinowski scored three of her four goals in the run to pace the Bantams.

"We have a good team," Perine said. "We just had a couple of tough years in terms of losing some close games, so I think everyone was really motivated knowing they could beat this team. We just focused on the fast break as much as possible and getting some goals that way."

The career-opening win for Perine was a satisfying achievement, but the new coach credits her players for the hot start.

"They have been completely supportive and have really bought into the changes I've made," said Perine, whose twin sister, Kristi, and older brother, Chandler, both played lacrosse at Bowdoin. "I've tried to be very clear about my expectations. I'm trying to encourage them because they are good players and a good team in a tough conference."

Predictably, Trinity entered the IWLCA Top 20 this week, checking in at No. 15. As with any coach, new or old, Perine will have to be on guard for the presence of swollen expectations and enlarged heads.

"I'm not worried about that, but we'll have that conversation," she said. "We're just trying to get more comfortable with that kind of mentality -- to expect to be in the lead -- and then how we react once we're there. I don't think these guys are going to work any less hard given what they accomplished on Saturday."

No Cup of Soup
While Perine was knocking off the seventh-ranked team on Saturday, another Middlebury grad making a debut of his own had to subdue the No. 8 team.

Granted, Dave Campbell's Middlebury men's lacrosse team was ranked fifth heading into its home game and was actually expected to beat Stevens Tech, but it was still a battle for the new coach as he started his quest to follow in Erin Quinn's successful footsteps.

Locked up in a five-all tie with just over five minutes in the game, Campbell watched as Tom Petty scored the game winner and Peter Mellen added an insurance goal with 42 ticks left for the 7-5 win.

"I was just really impressed with the poise," said Campbell. "We're playing a lot of new guys and that was a big question mark, especially against a team as good as Stevens. I thought they all answered the bell.

"It wasn't a perfect game by any means, but a lot of guys stepped up. And a couple of guys who did have experience played great; they played better than they had in the past."

Panther keeper Alex Palmisano finished with 13 saves while his Stevens Tech counterpart, Jack Dunderdale, made 12 stops in the loss. Campbell was impressed with the goalie play on each end.

"Both teams were getting some good looks, but both goalies played great. Their goalie made some great saves and stoned us. Alex was doing a great job for us. They were getting looks right on the doorstep and he just kept stonewalling guys," said Campbell, a former goalie for the Panthers. "It was somewhat of a goalie duel. The offenses played okay, but it was the goalies that were shutting them down."

Beating a Top 10 team in its season opener is an auspicious start for Middlebury, especially while the Panthers nursed several key injuries and played without attackman Mickey Gilchrist and LSM John Sales, both of whom are suiting up for the hockey team during its current NCAA run.

The thrill of Campbell's first win with his alma mater is followed by this weekend's bittersweet reunion game against Connecticut College, where Campbell earned his first head coaching gig and spent the last two seasons.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing a lot of those guys and those families because they welcomed me into that family over the last few years," said Campbell. "It will definitely be an emotional day for me. I think it will be a great game because they have a lot of talent and are great kids. It should be a lot of fun."

Two Tough Outs
Cabrini and Widener are D3 lacrosse's equivalent of mid-majors. Cabrini, out of the PAC, and Widener from the MAC, have made themselves into annual tourney participants by taking their conference's automatic qualifier. On Saturday, the two teams met each other and proved to be about as even as two teams could be.

The last goal of regulation was scored with 7:28 left in the third period, and Brian Stromko finally ended the affair with 42 seconds left in the second overtime to give Widener the 5-4 victory. The win for the Pride and the loss for the Cavaliers will have no bearing on the postseason as both teams are unlikely to be in the mix for an at-large bid should they not earn the AQ. However, stingy defense, an ability to grind out a game, and confidence are what scare the heck out of seeded teams come May, and both these teams possess these traits.

62...and Counting
The Mercyhurst men's lacrosse team was about as close to ending Le Moyne's 62-game regular season win streak as any team along the way, but then along came that Dolphin magic.

Rallying from a three-goal deficit, the Lakers tied the game at seven and managed to win the opening face-off in overtime. The first shot attempt went wide, and a second was knocked down in front of the goal, scooped up by Le Moyne, and transitioned for the victory. Bily Alex finished the job with a marker just 1:05 into the extra session.

Such is life in Division II men's lacrosse. Next up to crack the streak: No. 5 C.W. Post in the Carrier Dome on Saturday evening.

`Cat Scratch
Much like Trinity, the Bates women's lacrosse team was a bit player in the NESCAC last year, finishing ninth out of 10 teams with a 6-7 record. And like the Bantams, the Bobcats have posted an impressive early-season victory.

Behind four goals from Rachel Greenwood and three more from rookie Morgan Maciewicz, Bates stunned then-No. 18 Union on the road, 15-12. The Dutchwomen were an NCAA entrant last season and were expected to fight again for the Liberty League title.

Another indication of how cruel the NESCAC can be: Brett Allen's squad just clipped one of the better teams in the country, but will have to spring at least one upset in conference play to make the eight-team conference tournament.

Worthwhile Weekend Watching
Nothing says St. Patrick's Day like wearing a little a green, and that's just what lacrosse players are covered in after a tough game. Um, unless it's played on a synthetic turf in a domed stadium, or on a New England `field,' which provides more of a brown tint. Whatever. Both these types of surface will be hosting entertaining games this weekend.

New England: There will likely be a match-up of this caliber every week, but two of the NESCAC's top women's teams meet in Medford on Saturday when No. 13 Williams travels to No. 19 Tufts. Scarily enough, the loser of this game will have its NCAA at-large hopes squashed.

New York: The Carrier Dome is the place to be for a pair of intriguing junior circuit games. The day starts off at 12:30 p.m. with two floundering giants - Springfield and Cortland - squaring off with the loser needing to win its conference if it wants to revisit the NCAAs. At 6:30 p.m., Le Moyne puts its belt on the line against No. 5 C.W. Post. Oh, and No. 8 Syracuse plays No. 3 Hopkins at 3 p.m. -- if you're into that type of thing.

Mid-Atlantic: Nothing jumps off the page this weekend, but there are several games worthy of a glimpse if you're in the area. Had Cabrini not lost to Widener last weekend, the Cavaliers' tilt with Hampden-Sydney would hold a little more cachet, but it's still a decent game. West Chester at Gannon (Saturday, 1 p.m.) will clarify the women's D2 picture a bit. In women's D3, W&L plays Colby at Drew (Saturday, 1 p.m.).

Southern-ish: One has to wonder how fair it is to have a team with eight games already under its belt play a squad with just one, but that will be the situation when Lock Haven (which plays today) and Limestone (7-1) meet on Saturday (3 p.m.). These two teams are perennial contenders for the South region's two NCAA bids, so the winner of this has a serious leg up. These teams will leave everything on the field.

West: There used to be a time when a new varsity lacrosse program had to pay its dues, but the rookie campaign for Pomona-Pitzer has gone swimmingly with the Sagehens posting a 5-1 mark to start the season. Puget Sound, a grizzled veteran in relative terms, will be looking to reel the upstarts back in when the Loggers visit La-La Land on Sunday at 11 a.m. Colorado College also plays Drew on Saturday (3 p.m.) in San Diego, as CC head man Dave Zazzaro faces his alma mater.