NORTHWEST WOMEN’S DIVISION 3 TEAM WINS NATIONALS 2000!!

For the second year in a row, the Northwest Region proves to the rest of the lacrosse world they are a force to be reckoned.  The national’s tournament, held in Longmeadow, MA marks the finale of the spring season, bringing together players from all over the country to play their absolute best.

We arrived in Hartford, CT Friday afternoon giving us just enough time to have a practice and focus on the weekend ahead.

Our first game against Upper Atlantic set the pace for the entire weekend.  Clearly we dominated throughout the game with magnificent passing and catching.  All ground balls belonged to us and we were able to work the restraining line very well.  Most goals were scored with an assisted pass, at the same time our attack was successful with their one-on-one drives to goal.

The game against Mid Atlantic 3 was much tighter as many of their players were East Coast coaches and division one players.  The score was very close throughout the entire game and both teams were determined to come out on top.  Our strengths shined through beginning with our tough and tenacious defense, great midfield connections, and finishing the play with the assisted goal.  Amy Alvord with an assist to Vinca Swanson in the last minutes of the games chalked up another well-deserved victory.

Our line up was extremely strong, but we were put to the test Sunday morning.  Our play changed with our morning opponents, Mid Atlantic 4.  Though victorious, we discovered a breakdown in communications.   We immediately recognized this and recovered for the next game against Mountain.  Despite questionable officiating and overall roughness of the game, we won.  Enough said!

Our final competition was New England.  All of us on the Northwest team were determined to come out stronger than we had all day and show our opponent what we were made of.  It was a beautiful game that allowed us to really shine.  Even when the center draw was not won, we rebounded with excellent defensive positioning, recovering the ball down low and sending it to the midfield and ultimately to the scoring attack.  Moreover, we had flawless field positioning that made the game a lot easier for us and a lot harder for our rivals.  As the very last second counted down, Amy Alvord provide yet another goal to cap off the evening.  The final game was a synopsis of a fantastic weekend in Longmeadow for the Northwest!

Defense was rock solid and vicious.  Over and over again, Julie Bennani illustrated why we look to her for positioning and game strategy.  Sally Williams and Beth O’Connor deserve high praise for their wise choices at low defense.  Jen Naylor, Amy Fugelstad, Jeanette Wake, and Vinca Swanson kept the defense alive with their synergetic connections, ground ball wins, and terrific interceptions.  Our goalie, Effie Wardenburg maintained such a strong force.  After every clutch save, Effie set the tone with impressive clears to the defensive or attack wings.

Attack worked very well together identifying each other’s role in the offensive zone.  Tami Tomika directed many of the plays that allowed her assists to be completed with a goal.  Amy Alvord was key in setting the draw and scoring, while Emily Leary kept the midfield going with consistent coast-to-coast runs.  Lauren Schwartz and Juliet Baker provided textbook drives down the middle to goal.  Marisa Bassett, at attack wing, got the job done in the midfield offering great connections with our defense.  Alex Jones and Andrea Shatz maintained solid attack position with wide-open cuts to the ball and Liz Marzolf was our one-woman driver to goal.

Usually, after a region wins their division, the organizers of Nationals bump the region up a division for higher competition.  This year was different in that the champion remained in their original division regardless.  This is because regions and the tournament itself went through some major changes including restructuring existing regions and working with less field space.  Upon realizing that we were to remain in division 3, we felt even more determined to defend our title.  Next year the Northwest women’s lacrosse can look forward to a bid in the second division pool at National’s.  We will have to work very hard at all aspects of the game including skills, teamwork and mental and physical conditioning.  We are so ready and anxious to push ahead to meet this great challenge.  Essentially, we out-performed out competitors and it felt awesome!

GAME RESULTS

Jeanette Wake-The Theif

Julie Bennani-The Spoiler

Beth O'Connor-Master of Mayhem

Amy Fuglestad-Rising Star

Vinca Swanson-The Finisher

Andrea Shatz-N'Sync

Juliet Baker-"Zippidy Doo Dah, Zippidy Day"

Sally Williams-Doctor of Defense

Emily Leary-Coast to Coast in a single bound, it's superwoman...it's spider woman…no! it's Emily Leary

Alex  Jones-Fast and Furious

Amy Alvord-Quick Draw Alvord

Liz Marzolf-Bulldozer

Marisa Bassett-She's here, she's there, She's Every where

Lauren Schwartz-Philly Connection

Jen Naylor-Nail in the Coffin

Tami Tomika-Needle Threader

Effie Wardenburg-The Iron Curtain (except when she ducks)

Sue Haviland-The Green Machine is in the shop and rarin' to go.

Event sponsored by the US governing body of lacrosse:  US Lacrosse    

Lax News | Calendar | Lax Talk | Men's Teams | Women's Teams | Get on List | Send E-Mail | Home