U.S. Women Reunite; UNC, JMU Sharpen Focus
by Clare Lochary | Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff
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U.S. World Cup team attacker Katie Rowan works against a James Madison defender at Stars and Stripes in Alexandria, Va. © John Strohsacker/LaxPhotos.com |
ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The U.S. National Teams Program had a triumphant showing at the US Lacrosse Stars and Stripes Weekend. Team USA posted a combined 3-1 record against the University of North Carolina and James Madison University at St. Stephen's St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Va.
"This was a great day for Team USA," said U.S. head coach Ricky Fried. "After last night's ring ceremony for the 2009 World Cup championship, it's time to get to work on the next stage."
Competing in 25-minute running halves, the U.S. World Cup team defeated NCAA runner-up North Carolina, 11-6, to start the competition. Then Developmental battled back from a 4-4 halftime tie with James Madison to post a 13-7 victory. In their second game of the day, the Tar Heels bested the Developmental squad, 9-5. The World Cup team closed out the day with a commanding 18-7 win over the Dukes.
* Retirement and a spate of injuries gave the World Cup team a different look than it had over the summer. Three World Cup players -- defender Regina Oliver, midfielder Katie Chrest and attacker/midfielder and team captain Michele DeJuliis -- have hung up their cleats for good. Four more Elite players (attacker Whitney Douthett, attacker Hilary Bowen, midfielder Acacia Walker and goalie Devon Wills) were sidelined with injuries. As a result, a handful of players -- defender Angela Hughes, midfielder Becky Clipp, midfielder Kelly Berger and goalie Amy Altig -- floated between Elite and Developmental. Berger wins the unofficial iron woman award for playing significant minutes in four consecutive games.
* Carol Cantele debuted as the Developmental
team coach, leading many of her players through their first games
in the red, white and blue.
"The tempo was set once they put on that jersey. Everyone wants to
perform for the team," said Cantele, head coach at Gettysburg. "We
had some super moments, and some areas where we need to grow."
Cantele made some halftime adjustments during the Carolina game that limited the Heels to just two goals in the second half, urging her midfield and offense to be more aggressive off the draw.
* Recent Notre Dame grad Jillian Byers broke out with five goals in Devo's win over James Madison in her first game playing for Team USA.
"It's an incredible feeling," said Byers. "It's tough, but it's fun, because there is a lot of competitiveness, which is what makes it fun."
Said Cantele of Byers: "She's got quick hands and she's slippery inside. And her timing -- once the ball is distributed, she's got that quick little step."
* Goalie Kendall McBrearty also shone in the Devo-JMU game, posting six saves in the first half and staving off the Dukes' upset bid. Her flashiest stop came when she was caught outside the crease and had to race back to stop a point-blank shot with a kick save.
* With three current players deployed to the Developmental team, North Carolina head coach Jenny Levy had plenty of time to see what her eight freshmen could do. As it turned out, that was plenty, especially in the win against Devo.
"We need to handle the pressure a little better, which is
something we didn't do in the national championship against
Northwestern," said Levy.
"We played Maryland on a Friday when they didn't press us and won,
and then on Sunday, we didn't adjust during the game."
The U.S., with its up-tempo pressure, provided the kind of game situation that can't be re-created in drills, helping North Carolina to find the mental toughness the team will need to get back to Towson in May. The Heels have physical toughness to spare -- they play a rough-and-tumble game.
* Carolina first-team All-American goalie Logan Ripley is taking the semester off for personal reasons, vacating the starting goalie job for fall ball. Freshman keeper Lauren Maksym (Farmingdale, N.Y.) seems to have the nod, starting in both games.
* JMU coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe seemed pleased with the Dukes' outing. "Even though we're young and we're injured, we're not intimidated," said Klaes-Bawcombe.
The heart of JMU's attack is still junior Mary Kate Lomady, but she can expect some help this year from sophomores Monica Zabel and Ariel Lane. Middies Caitlin McHugh and Asheley Kimener took most of the draws, and put forth a respectable showing against the likes of Team USA's Kristen Kjellman, Shannon Smith and Berger.
* The Dukes also have a battle going for the starting goalie job, between freshman Alisa Konishi (Littleton, Colo.) and senior Morgan Kelly. Neither keeper really separated herself from the pack, but whoever gets the spot can rest easy knowing solid defenders Cally Chakrian and Kelsey MacDonald will have her back. MacDonald is a freshman out of Bryn Mawr (Md.).
