[NU Sports] In the Final Four again...how about that...

[Roy S. Lamberton]

What was obvious in the loss to Maryland last year was their team speed vs our team speed.

We could play them even when we got the ball behind the net, but in the open field, those
Terps were deadly.

In the one game I did get to see on the internet (Notre Dame), it appeared that we were
playing a little more uptempo, and with some quicker players.

I guess everything is relative, Lacrosse is fast enough without introducing greased
lightning. And it appears that the back to back losses served as a wakeup.

Have many things on tap this weekend, but will try to catch Friday's game, if nothing else
but to cheer on our Ladies.

And will wear purple tomorrow.

Of course

rsl
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate & Unix Guru.
Computer Applications & Support Associates
-------------------- Also ----------------------
"Commissioner" Delaware American Legion Baseball
Director Media Relations - Little League 
  Senior League Softball World Series
CTR2 USN (67-70) - CTRCS USNR (Ret) (64-67/70-95)
Northwestern University - Speech 1974 - 
Chi Phi: Pi 1974, KD 1968
Publisher Emeritus: Purple Reign (Fox Sports)
================================================
Opinions expressed above are mine alone and are not
those of any organizations of which I am a member.
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==========  Go Cats -  Beat 'em All  ===========


-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of Tom
Maycock
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 4:42 PM
To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] In the Final Four again...how about that...

OK, I've been "lax" in commenting on the "Lax" team this year, but was prompted 
to post by the announcement that the Big Ten Network will be carrying the final 
four Women's Lacrosse games:

http://nusports.cstv.com/sports/w-lacros/spec-rel/052611aab.html

Much to my surprise, I had just found out via a forum thread at laxpower that 
CBS College Sports network wasn't carrying the final four games this year as 
they had in the past. So, as of this morning, the only way to watch was going to 
be the NCAA live internet feed (which Buffalo Wild Wings in Evanston was picking 
up). 

Pretty sad step backward, and I was actually wondering whether there might be an 
opportunity for the BTN to step in, particularly given this week's news that 
Michigan would be stepping up their men's and women's programs to D1 over the 
next couple of years. 

And sure enough, the BTN made it happen. First game will be tape delayed 
following baseball at 9:30 or thereabouts (you can still watch the stream live 
starting at 6:30pm Central), and then the championship game will be aired live. 
Now if NU can just make it to that game!

It's been an interesting year for the Cats. We've had an absolutely miserable 
spring weather-wise here in Chicago, with February-esque conditions prevailing 
through March, April, and May (it's cold, windy, and wet out AGAIN today). The 
weather has been especially nasty for almost every Lax home game--horizontal 
snow, 30mph wind/40 degree mists, and so on. As a result, we missed several home 
games, and I wondered if ugly practice conditions might slow development of the 
team--although I think they do practice indoors sometimes. 

The team started off well, winning some tough early matchups, but then struggled 
with back-to-back losses against fast-rising Florida and Johns Hopkins. The step 
backward wasn't terribly surprising, given the overall youth of this team in 
what is clearly a bit of a rebuilding year. To my outsider eyes, they 
also seemed to be lacking some of enthusiasm, and perhaps some of the vocal 
leadership, of past teams. Lamanto also had a shaky few games in goal, which was 
very unusual. 

Since then, however, the defense has really started to crank it up, "Breezy" 
seemed to get her mojo back between the pipes, the offense has developed a much 
better flow, and Shannon Smith has been on an absolute tear scoring goals and 
dishing out assists (Shannon *not* being named ALC player of the year may have 
been the best thing to happen to the Cats--I think she's scored 5 goals in every 
game since then). 

The Cats exacted revenge over Florda in a tight conference title game, secured a 
hard-fought win over BC in the first round NCAA game, and then played easily 
their best game of the year in a complete dismantling of Albany last Saturday. 
The enthusiasm seems back in a big way. 

They play North Carolina on Friday--a team they beat in OT on the road earlier 
this year, so that's clearly a tough but winnable game. If they get by NC, it's 
hard to see this team upsetting Maryland for the championship, but anything is 
possible. 

Meanwhile, Taylor Thornton has built on the pure speed she displayed last year 
with ever-improving skills at picking up loose balls and causing turnovers. 
There's nothing more entertaining at a home game then hearing the crowd go nuts 
when she takes off on one of her patented end-to-end one woman clears, blowing 
past defenders who look like they are running in mud. 

Should be fun to watch Friday's game. I just have to decide whether to watch the 
stream live or wait for the BTN delay.

Tom

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