As the start of the Keene State College Women’s Lacrosse season approaches, each group of players has a different task to worry about. Seniors enforce team cohesiveness, offensive players try to strengthen their plays and coach Katie Arsenault teaches the importance of playing with heart.
One thing, however, may be on the mind of every member of the team: winning back the title of Little East Conference Champions.
In a match-up on March 4 against Tufts University, the Lady Owls began their chase for the championship, a title won by KSC in 2009, 2011 and 2012.
Last year, the Owls were barely out-scored by Southern Maine in the semifinal round of the tournament.
The Equinox / File Photo:
Sophomore Kaitlin Nolan avoids a defender in 2013’s season opener on Monday, March 4.
According to Arsenault, her team is on a mission to end this season differently than their last. “We want to get to LECs. Right now we’re focusing on our non-conference games, conference match-ups don’t come until about halfway through the season. We’re just trying to take those and learn from them—some are tough, some are a little easier. We’re looking to just build as a team slowly but surely,” she said.
One thing Arsenault expressed she does not worry over is getting her senior leaders on board with her goals.
According to senior goalkeeper Erin Taylor, her class of players wants to end their collegiate lacrosse year with one more title.
“Last year, it was pretty awful when we lost in the semifinals. I think we all have that feeling of what it’s like to lose in a semifinal because the two years before that we won the whole tournament. It’s just an awful feeling; none of us want to go through that again,” Taylor said.
While the seniors recognize the thrill of success and the agony of defeat, the underclassmen players still look towards the same goal.
Freshman Maureen Moran said, “I know we have a lot of potential for this season—we all bring in a lot of qualities. We’re still working on clicking everything, but once everything has clicked, I think we’ll have a really strong team in every position this year.”
As the chance to reach their goal of being LEC Champions approaches, the Owls are gaining confidence.
“We have the tools to do it, we got a few good freshmen. The team seems to be really clicking. We have seven seniors, so there’s a good amount of leadership there,” Arsenault said.
“We have come together so much as a team already. I think we’re prepared mentally and physically for anything that can possibly be thrown at us,” Taylor added, “I think last year we kind of went into it with expectations. This year we know we have to work for everything if we want to get to the LEC championship.”
Despite the drive and positivity of her athletes, Arsenault said she understands there are still aspects of the game that need to be worked on in order for the team to achieve their goal.
For example, Arsenault said the offense is very talented, but it is vital for them to work together as one cohesive unit. “
We have a lot of different players with a lot of different styles coming together. We’re still trying to figure out where they all come together, how to make them gel. Once it clicks, we know it will be good. So it’s just a matter of trying different things to see what works,” she said.
Moran added it is especially challenging for the freshmen to mesh with the other players. Nonetheless, she said her class is ready for the challenge.
“You have to be creative with what you do— you can’t just run straight through. You have to make moves,” Moran said. “If someone is going to move, you have to make sure no one else is going there first. It’s a lot of understanding each other.”
While hard work is a vital part of being successful, Arsenault ensures that her girls know the real route to another LEC championship title.
“You can have all the talent, be the best team, but in the playoffs it’s mostly heart,” Arnesault said.
“It’s a matter of all working together,” Taylor added, “If we do that, we can go out and play every game to the best of our abilities, we can walk off the field without saying, ‘Oh, we could have done this better, we could have done that better.’ Instead, we can just come off and say we played the best we could.”
Diana Pimer can be contacted at dpimer@keene-equinox.com
