After coming off its worst season since joining the Patriot League four years ago, the AU women's lacrosse team is looking to make 2006 a banner year for the program. And so far, they're making a pretty good case.
They finished a disappointing 6-11 last season, but the Eagles have bounced back this year, maintaining a perfect record in league play and an overall record of 3-5. Though they lost some momentum last week with consecutive losses, they regained their stride with a big win over Lafayette this past weekend.
"We started off the season well against two very tough teams [in Old Dominion and Towson]," coach Ashley Flanigan said. "We came out slow against [George Washington] and Binghamton over spring break and lost our focus, but we regrouped for Lafayette and got a win."
The Eagles have had to rely on a young squad this year, welcoming eight freshmen and returning nine sophomores.
The team has a small contingent of upperclassmen but returns four seniors, including captain Moriah Linnel, who was a First Team All-PL selection last season, and goalkeeper Kathleen Finnegan, who was named the PL Defensive Player of the Week last week.
"We have a young team," Finnegan said. "But we all have the same collective goal, which is to host the Patriot League championship and win to earn an NCAA tournament appearance."
AU was able to do just that in 2003, earning a berth onto the national stage as PL champs. The team came up short of that goal last year, losing in the league semifinals and missing the finals for the first time since they joined the PL in 2002.
"We're definitely looking to qualify for the PL tournament and get to the finals again," Flanigan said. "Holy Cross and Colgate will be two of the toughest teams to beat."
The Eagles have struggled playing against both teams in past seasons, falling to them last year in regular-season play. The team hopes to build on their perfect league record, a bigger challenge as the season continues.
"With PL games, we're performing really well," Finnegan said. "It's hard because we don't have any preseason scrimmages, so when we play them during the regular season, we learn as we go."
This week is an important week for the Eagles, with yesterday's close loss at No. 9 Richmond and games against No. 6 Johns Hopkins and PL foe Villanova coming up.
Already almost halfway through the season, the Eagles remain confident that they can keep up with their tough schedule and pick up more wins in the process.
"If we play to the best of our ability, things will fall into place," Finnegan said. "99 percent of the time, it's all a mental thing. You have to believe. You have to think you can win every game"
