Tuesday, May 5, 2010
Since we loaded up the bus this morning en route to the CAA tournament, I have been reflecting on the season, in particular, the past week of practice. We knew we would make it here and definitely expect to go even further. We all know what we bring, and this week in practice, after hard fought battles, we have proven that we want it. From here on out its a fight to keep fighting. Having experienced winning the CAA championship freshman year, our senior class is ready to lead our team to victory.
Film selections for the long bus trip to Harrisonburg, VA have included "Radio" and "The Rookie" so far. Can you tell we love our inspirational sports flicks? These were some of the few that made it through the coaches' selection round. Those which didn't make the cut were Wayne's World (one of my personal all-time faves), Prime, Matilda, and The Goonies. And, of course there's always a group lobbying for one of the Twilight movies. A long bus trip like this also provide ample study time for finals which begin on Monday.
Abby read to us an e-mail from Gina's mom which was filled with joy! Gina's tumor has once again decreased in size! Of course we all reach for our phones to text our teammate, and we will continue to play for her. She has a huge heart and teaches us all to live happy and to beLIeVE.
Last night the seniors, along with Steph and the coaches attended Hofstra's Senior Athletic Banquet where the seniors were honored and both Steph and Corrine received prestigious awards. It was truly a moment to be proud of what we have done athletically and academically in our four years here. We will continue to add to our accomplishments as we battle Towson tomorrow night in semi-finals.
#20 Courtney O'Connor
Monday, May 3, 2010
Our win against Drexel marked the end of the second part of our journey in the 2010 season. The win was decisive and it gave us the momentum and drive that we needed to prepare for the third leg of our journey, which is the CAA tournament. Throughout the entire season we as a unit have harped upon the fact that we want to peak in May and not before; as the days of April came to a close we realized that the time to peak mentally and physically was upon us. A week worth of practices, lifts and ice baths separated us from the semifinal CAA game. The weather both Saturday and Sunday allowed us to simulate the hot and humid weather that we will be facing in Virginia. We pushed each other hard each and every practice and fought to adjust to the altered bounces created by the grass. The weekend was all about team as we had a backyard barbeque at the Manor Mansion on Friday night; the cookout was a great success due to the grilling skills of Courtney O'Connor and the hospitality of all of our seniors. On Saturday night we cheered on the Men's team as they defeated Towson in their last CAA game of the season. The game got us excited and ready for the challenges and battles that await us in the coming weekend. Tomorrow is our last practice at home before we embark on our trek down to Virginia and we want to play hard and smart in order to prepare ourselves for the game on Thursday!
#11 Stephanie Rice
Monday, April 26, 2010
As we prepared for the third week of CAA games it was evident that we needed to get our "flow" back on both offense and defense. Practices leading up to the game on Friday were full of team oriented drills and setups intended to make us work together as a unit instead of individuals. When game day finally arrived the mood was serious and focused; the psyche up, created by Sandy and Maryann, explained all of the legitimate reasons that the pride and lions are the mightiest animals in the kingdom. The game was Hofstra dominated from the beginning whistle; we found our rhythm and never looked back. Although the win was a solid victory, we knew that a big test was waiting for us on Sunday afternoon in Maryland.
Saturday morning included all of the necessary pre-game day events; we watched film, had practice and took excruciatingly cold ice baths. Although Saturday morning was like many of other pre-game day practices, there was a very important element missing. One of our most energetic and prodigious leaders, Corrine, had to miss practices due to an infection in her leg caused by a blister. The infection, however, did not get in the way of our plans and as a result we departed for our team dinner at Claire's house after we watched the men's team defeat Jacksonville. The bus ride to Maryland was one filled with ups and downs; we were lucky enough to have our favorite bus driver Eddie, but unfortunately the bus was malfunctioning and it was emitting hot air instead of cold air. The bus ride was hot and sticky but finally we arrived at Claire's house where we ate dinner and looked at old pictures of Claire. Sunday had finally arrived and it was a humid and foggy weekend morning. The game was intense every minute and the winner was not decided until the final minutes of the game. Unfortunately we did not come out on the winning side; however, we are lucky because we will be facing face them again in just over a week when we play in the CAA semi-final game.
#11 Stephanie Rice
Friday, April 23, 2010
It's been a hectic week academically for all of us as the semester comes to an end. From debates to papers and exams, we've all been on the grind. Yesterday before practice, as we emerged from film in the dungeon theater, we exited to what seemed like a scene from the movie Twister. The purple and green sky was dark with lightning soon to follow. We waited the storm out during a glorious stretch led by Jimmy and mini-stick madness in the locker room. We set up the mini goals, grabbed our mini-sticks and made teams of 2. It wasn't long before it got intense and pretty physical. Casey Kellog was a key player, but coaches TK and Nuzzi were a tough match as well. Liz Falco and myself reigned the mini stick field for quite a while.
Before we knew it, it was time to head to the bubble (our indoor turf facility) for our pre-game practice! It may be the last time for the seniors playing in the dutch dome on Friday, then we head to Towson on Sunday.
Ice baths all around this week indicated out preparedness for this weekend. We worked on getting the right flow on our attacking end , while working as a unit on D. Still, we continue to search for consistency in games. This weekend will be very important in determining our post-season fate and improving our game.
#20 Courtney O'Connor
Monday, April 19, 2010
This past weekend was a tale of ups and downs for us as individuals as well as for the team as a whole. We left for Virginia on Thursday afternoon and we had every intention of returning with two wins and a perfect conference record under our belt. Unfortunately the highs and lows of our mental and physical toughness resulted in a defeat on Sunday afternoon. The drive down to Virginia was relatively painless; Mary took the reigns of movie selections while Taylor and Lauren Chandler kept a running tally of how many times people had to use the bathroom. The long bus ride left us ready to stretch our legs and play a solid game on Friday; unfortunately Friday's game was plagued by inconsistencies on both ends of the field. Although we struggled at times, the team never lost composure and we walked away with a solid victory, which placed us 3-0 in the conference standings. That night we all piled into the small hotel pool and did a dynamic pool workout led by Bobby; to the chagrin of the lifeguard we were able to fit all of the team into the pool to complete the exercises. The pool was cold and the water was full of flapping arms and legs but it was an attempt to prepare our bodies for the battle that would ensue Sunday afternoon.
Saturday was full of rest and mental preparation as we prepared for our next game. The pre-game meal was topped off by delicious cupcakes, compliments of Mr. Corzel, and an evening bike/swim to get the lactic acid flowing out of our legs. As Coach Nuzzi likes to say we were lucky enough to experience "Christmas Eve" (the night before game day) twice in one weekend due to our games on Friday and Sunday. Unfortunately the second coming of "Christmas" for the weekend did not end in a Pride victory. As we suffered our first loss in conference play we realized that we need to learn from our mistakes and be ready to prove ourselves in practice in order to play to our potential in the games to come.
#11 Stephanie Rice
Thursday, April 15, 2010
This morning as I woke, the sun shined through my blinds, I could see the remainder of the toilet paper hanging on the tree in the front yard from when the team TPed the house for senior day last Sunday. Our senior day win was bitter sweet in a few ways. But I found myself thinking about all of the senior days I have witnessed in the past at the Dutch Dome. I reminisced and reflected on every senior that I have honored in the past and that was once a teammate of mine. Granted, there were great memories (winning CAAs freshman year) and comical moments (Kelly McGrath's crazy laugh), but most of all, each senior left a legacy, no matter how big or how small. In retrospect, I shifted my original view of sadness on senior day, to a more jubilant and celebratory attitude. As seniors, knowing that we are and have been a part of something so much greater than ourselves,
is an extraordinary gift. I am forever grateful for the friendships we have developed and each experience with every past and present teammate. After all, that is team. I'd like to make a shot out to an alum, Fraser, who was my motivation for this entry!
Now, I sit in an ice bath seemingly comparable to titanic waters, treasuring the moments that I have left, and knowing that any of my old teammates would give anything to get it back. After arriving in Fairfax, VA tonight, we watched film and got the scouting report in order to prepare for tomorrow. This bus trip's movie selection consisted of The Blindside and Vantage Point. Others caught some much-needed Z's from the school week or rocked out on their ipods. We are approaching this weekend one game at a time and focusing on the moments as they pass. Lax is love. Rev Court.
#20 Courtney O'Connor
Monday, April 12, 2010
A long week of practice filled with mental and physical tests got us ready for the first games of our CAA "season". We have been through many difficult situations so far this season and we plan to take what we learned and implement it for the next seven games of our season. On Friday we went to Vincent's to get ready for our first CAA contest against William and Mary. At the restaurant we received tickets to the CAA championship game which will be played on May 6. The tickets, given out to each player, served as a reminder that our goal is not to just play the next seven games, but instead, it is to win the games and come together as a team so that we peak during the CAA tournament. With a new lockerroom and a revamped warm-up tape, we were ready to take on the Tribe. The game against William and Mary was fast-paced and aggressive until the final buzzer sounded. Although we were happy about the win, we realized that in order for us to take it to the next level, we have to be able to put together a complete 60 minutes of intense and consistent play.
Saturday was full of preparations physically, mentally and spiritually as we prepared to take on Old Dominion as well as to celebrate our eight seniors. The Hannons were nice enough to invite us to their house for a pre-game pasta party full of delicious pasta, chicken, fruit salads and cookies. While the seniors went about their normal business Saturday night, all of the other members of the team went decorating and making the locker-room look ready for Senior Day. Streamers and balloons were used to make the lockerroom festive while toilet paper was utilized to decorate the outside of the senior's house. Although Senior Day was a very important aspect of Sunday's game, we realized that a win would make the day totally enjoyable for the team. ODU pushed us to play a solid game on both ends of the field. Walking away with two wins from our first weekend of play was a great feeling but we know that there is much more work to be done as we prepare for the next five games of our season.
#11 Stephanie Rice
Friday, April 9
Friday, we begin CAA conference play with a record as statistically close to undefeated as possible. Through the heartbreaking loses that we have encountered, we have gained the experience and learned the lessons. Now that we have a fresh start, these next seven games will be incredibly important, as they determine our fate. As a senior, I know that Colonial Athletic Association games are always a blood bath. No matter the opponent, their record, their stats, their injuries, it is always a fight to the death. Our passion and drive to win will prevent us from continuing to produce close-scoring games, and aid us to dig the knife and twist it. Draws and possession will be key factors in allowing us to control the play in our upcoming competitions. Our past games no longer matter. From here on out, we control our destiny.
We returned from San Fran safely and luckily with all of our personnel, even after a few groups got lost amongst the gigantic redwood trees in Muir woods. If it isn't team work when you find your way back (with no compass) from a trail that's not marked on the map just in time for the bus, then I don't know what is! The lengthy plane ride was ideal for thinking about our game and how to change and improve. It felt great to be back on land in NY, where we were able to continue to assess and get better. The coaches pushed us to new limits, demanding only the best. We were all thankful that we were able to spend Easter at home with our friends and family, but at the same time, never lost focus of our upcoming opportunities. As the family Easter egg hunt champion, I can say that competition never left my mind.
In other news, we have recently moved into our new luxurious locker room! This exciting move leaves us with a much bigger space, more showers and bathrooms, a lounge area, and computer desks for homework! I'm not sure any of us ever want to leave it. The freshmen, in particular, Taylor, Jackie, and Chandler can be found chilling in there at just about any point of the day. Casey Kellogg spent time today using her graphic design skills to re-write our 2010 Season Goals on posters which are hung in the locker room. We continue to love and appreciate our incredible locker room space! For now, we hope the "suns out, guns out" beautiful weather continues as we enter our first weekend of CAA play. Even if the weather doesn't pull through, and our "guns" aren't out, we will have the knife to dig in for 2 wins.
#20 Courtney O'Connor
April 5, 2010
Our spring break trip to Stanford was full of great experiences and lessons that will undoubtedly help us succeed when we begin CAA play on Friday. The beginning of the trip was full of team bonding experiences; we went to the Redwood Forest and had a nighttime bonfire complete with smores and charades. Although the weather looked relatively bleak upon our arrival in California, the rain held off long enough for us to get in all the activities our coaches had planned. We had a wonderful time walking around Fisherman's Wharf, looking at the seals on the docks and driving over the Golden Gate Bridge singing the theme song from Full House. The rain arrived right on schedule, minutes before the start of our contest. Unfortunately, rain is not something foreign to our team; we have played numerous games including Rutgers and Notre Dame in torrential Long Island wind and rainstorms. We came out firing and took an early lead against the Cardinal, unfortunately mental mistakes on our part led to an eventual sudden-death overtime loss. This defeat marked the third time that we have lost by one goal this year and it was evident that a west coast loss is just as painful as an east coast loss. The plane ride back to Hofstra was pretty painless, although a leaking wing had more nervous flyers like Jill Maier feeling a bit uneasy.
The Stanford game marked the end of our non-conference schedule and the beginning of CAA games. Although we have experienced some very close and heartbreaking losses in the first part of our season, we have definitely learned a lot and are determined to play as a team and learn how to finish close games on top. In less than a week we have our first CAA game and intend to make the most of each practice in order to mentally and physically prepare ourselves for the challenges that we will face in the conference contests.
#11 Stephanie Rice
Monday, March 29
After our big win against Oregon we were excited to have finally played well as a complete unit; Monday's contest showed that we are capable of winning a big game in a decisive way. Although we played well in the Oregon game, there are still many things that we need to fix in order to prepare for our next game against Stanford. The two days following our win against Oregon were days off which were dedicated to dealing with the avalanche of papers, midterms and presentations that had been pilling up in the weeks leading up to spring break.
Thursday came soon enough and it had us itching to get back on the field and start preparing for our upcoming contest against a very fast and athletic Stanford team. The team was full of jitters and excitement throughout the week as we packed and physically prepared for our spring break trip to California. Although we knew that the trip was going to be a great experienced packed with fun events and activities we also realize that it is a "business trip" and the main goal is to walk away playing as a team and with a win. Sunday night was a furry of packing, planning and rummaging as we checked and rechecked that we had our licenses, jerseys and sticks.
A plane trip is always a big event that involves loads of planning on the parts of our coaches and athletic training staff. Emily Corzel, along with Casey Kellogg made extra sure that the balls, water bottles and sticks successfully made it onto the plane. With our bags packed and goals in mind we were ready to depart for Cali. Our plane left at 8:10 a.m. so we departed from Margiotta at a bright and early 5:45 a.m. to the chagrin of people like Courtney O'Connor who detests waking up early. The rain was pouring down as we packed the bus to depart to JFK, however everyone was excited and energized in anticipation of the flight to come. Our trip to California is bound to be a great Spring Break event; we are ready to enjoy each other's company as well as try and beat the Cardinal on Wednesday!
#11 Stephanie Rice
Friday, March 26
"Duck hunting season" was proven a success after our 21-8 win against Oregon on Monday. We continue to access our play using the 30 specific team goals that we set for the season and which continue to alter every three games. Some of the goals are quantifiable such as having seven or more goal scorers each game, or not allowing the opposing team to score with two minutes left in the half or game. The less measurable goals include each player taking a healthy risk, and middies never taking a rest on either end. As a team, it is easier to evaluate each part of our games using these goals during team meetings and discussions. It also is a friendly reminder that there is always something more to improve on, and to never be satisfied.
Today, Maddie went under the knife for her second ACL reconstruction. We all sent our love to her in an awesome, over-sized, home-made greeting card. Practices have been challenging and competitive, pushing us to the limit. Today, Jill won the award for the most power bars eaten in one day (3), which was evident in the way she was ripping shots top shelf. This week we've been awed by Liz Falco's all-American defensive skills. In other news, Maryann has been officially cleared to play at practice! She has been working incredibly hard during rehab and looks like Rocky when she runs the stadium stairs. I'm proud to have her represent the city of brotherly love! Tonight, the packing list for STANFORD will be circulated via e-mail from Jennalee. We always anxiously await the infamous packing list because it makes us feel a little less nervous about leaving Hempstead without important game items. The excitement has been building as we approach our early morning departure for NorCal on Monday! Equipped with our briefcases and suits, we will make this business trip a success!
#20 Courtney O'Connor
Monday, March 22
Three intense and competitive days of practice and team bonding have left us ready and waiting to go "duck hunting" tomorrow as we take on the Oregon Ducks. The focus for practice the last three days has been to work on pushing the fast break as well as finding chemistry and timing on both the offensive and defense ends of the field. Our hope is that we can continue to improve as individuals and as a team so that we are solidifying our game when CAA's begin. We spent the weekend not only preparing our minds and bodies for the upcoming game, but we also took some time to relax together as a team. On Saturday we enjoyed the beautiful weather by watching the men's team battle Sacred Heart and then having a cookout at the senior girls' house. The cookout included all of the summer cookout staples; including hamburgers, hotdogs, chips and salad. Thanks to the excellent grilling done by Courtney and Ashley, the whole team was able to eat outside and enjoy the beautiful weather, teammate camaraderie and great food. Dinner discussions ranged from political talks about healthcare and doctors to what everyone's first screen name was. Needless to say the dinner was a success and it has us longing for the next gorgeous day where we could use the manor mansion for another team get together.
As the weekend draws to a close, we look forward to a very exciting and busy upcoming week. Not only do we play a very fast and aggressive Oregon team on Monday, but we also have to celebrate Emily Von Hollen's nineteenth birthday on Friday as well as Maddie's ACL surgery.
#11 Stephanie Rice
Saturday, March 20
Since our "battle of the island" win on Wednesday, we have been hard at work during practice this week. The gorgeous spring weather means only one thing to us (and it is not sun tanning); lax season is well underway, and CAA conference games are just around the corner. Practices are tough and filled with intensity to ensure that we reach our peak when heading into CAA competition. We are not over-looking our next two games by any means, just making sure we're on the right track and not heading backwards. The energy was felt during the infamous "touching feet" drill on Friday at practice. Even after a minor rule change, the attacking unit still failed to come out victorious. This Monday marks "Professor Day", which is an annual occurrence to which our favorite and most respected professors are specially invited. We face Oregon, so we will see how another west coast team fares against the Pride.
We woke up this morning to beautiful weather for laxin'. After practice, the attack and middies spent time getting in some extra shots and improving shot accuracy. Then, we cheered on the Hofstra Men's lacrosse team as they beat Sacred Heart in an exciting game. Later, we spent the afternoon outdoors by the grill during a fun-filled team barbeque. Tomorrow morning, we will be back at it on the turf, preparing for our next battle.
#20 Courtney O'Connor
Thursday, March 18
Saturday's mucky monsoon was another installment of the bitter and aggressive rivalry that exists between our team and Rutgers. Although the wind was howling and the rain was pelting our skin like ice balls, it was not enough to stop our drive and intensity to end with a "w". All week in practice we had focused on playing as a team throughout the ups and downs of the game and I think that we really came together at the end of the game to do what needed to be done to solidify a victory. K'leigh Vanaman was a viper on the groundballs and draw controls which gave us the advantage of having possession in the overtime periods. Also, the bench, led by our acl triplets (Maddie, Emily and Maryann) was a sign of constant encouragement and praise. In the second half of the game, the Rutgers' goalie was playing very well; she was saving shots high and low. However, the goalie's prowess was not enough to stop Jill's top shelf shot in the second overtime. We walked away from the Rutgers' game excited to have won and wishing for the early emergence of springtime weather!
The Rutgers and Stony Brook games were like Cain and Abel. The Rutgers' game was freezing cold with whipping winds while the Stony Brook game showed the first signs of a promising spring! The "Battle of the Island" was marked by intensity and hard work by both teams. Our very own Casey Kellogg and Courtney O'Connor crafted a St. Patrick's Day rap that left all of us chuckling and calling for an encore. We came into the Stony Brook game with precise goals and achievements that we wanted met; we may have started out slowly, but ended with a bang recording 17 goals, including twelve in the second half. Not only did we achieve a victory on the scoreboard but also many members of our team took healthy risks that increased their performance and contributions to the team. For example, Bettina pressured out behind all day, while Katie caught a one handed pass and proceeded to penetrate into the eight meter. The game was a success and now we need to learn from out mistakes and accomplishments and prepare to play Oregon on Monday!
#11 Stephanie Rice
Monday, March 8
A weeks worth of effort and dedication left us with one goal, to win as a complete unit. As we stepped on the bus to depart on our first away trip of the 2010 season, the anticipation and excitement was evident. The usually quiet bus was alive with chatter and conversations about the chilly upstate weather and the battle that was going to ensue with a very talented Cornell team. The trip started with a viewing of one of the teams' most sacred movies, Just Friends; although we have seen the movie a many, many times, it seems to always be the first one that Mary, our "Movie Master", suggests. The bus ride was quick and easy and before we knew it, we had arrived in Ithaca, New York. For many of us, Upstate is home and although we had to endure criticism about there being more horses and cows than people upstate, it felt nice to be back in the area. Friday morning we depart for Cornell in hopes of better weather than the game time snowstorm that we discovered two years ago. More importantly, we depart eager and ready to WIN! After a week full of intensity and improvement, we will finally be put to the test on Saturday in Ithaca. Our focus this week was teamwork. We definitely learned the lesson of trusting our teammates during a drill in which we had to verbally lead a blindfolded partner around and through the stadium stairs. Even though a certain teammate, who shall remain nameless, ended up falling in the bushes, it taught us to listen and to trust. We enter this weekend working together and playing together as a team. Both our attack and our defense came out strong and ready to fight at practice, placing more pressure on either end to step up.
When I arrived in the beautiful locker room this morning as Justin Bieber was blasting, it struck me that Saturday marks our first away game of the 2010 lax season. It will be interesting to see how our usual pre-game locker room dance contest ritual plays out, on the road. And we will be missing our number one fan and inspiration, GINA! But, we will definitely still be fighting for her! Classes are starting to pick-up as midterms are approaching, so more and more notebooks and note cards are found scattered on the locker room floor (However, as the locker room cleaning police, I would never allow a mess). Getting in the extra study time between lift and practice is clutch! Huge accomplishment this week in the weight room...We are finding our success with footwork during ladders! Big thanks to Jimmy for the extra push and all the girls for working hard. In particular, Jackie Pandolf tears the ladders up like lightening through a tree.
#20 Courtney O'Connor
Thursday, March 4
Breakfast started game day out right, while eating bagels, fruit, eggs and cereal. We sat with members of our team from our positions to ensure that we were all on the same mental page. The next step was a "pump up" activity led by Falco and Chandler; they urged us to work as a team in order to "chew up and spit out the Big Red". Unlike two years ago when we played Cornell at Ithaca and the game was stopped because of a spring blizzard, the weather was gorgeous and we walked into the visitor's locker room ready for a great game. Led by Katie, the team participated in its customary pre-game dance party spiced up by a round of "pass the energy." Then it was time to take the field. The game was intense and it was evident from the first whistle that it was going to be a close battle until the end. Down at halftime by one, we realized that if we were going to walk away with a win, both the offense and defense would have to play smarter and with greater awareness and trust in our teammates and our system. In a great rallying effort, we scored the last four goals of the game and shutout Cornell over the last twenty minutes to earn a hard fought 12-10 victory. The game was followed by showers, medical treatments and a great tailgate put on by the parents. Then it was back on the bus for the return trip to Hofstra. Our first road trip was a success: the weather was great, we had fun together as a team and most of all, and we walked away with a "W".
#11 Stephanie Rice
