University of Connecticut Athletics
"It's Been a Long December and There's Reason to Believe Maybe This Year Will be Better Than the Last"
1/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Jan. 20, 2010
It's hard to believe that another season is quickly approaching, and it is one that will certainly be welcomed with excitement and optimism. The fall season of 2009 brought together 16 new faces and 15 returning players, as well as a new assistant coach. Bound together by a drive to improve, this new group has spent the last four months working together to solidify the latest UConn Women's Lacrosse team. Fall competitions included a long, but enjoyable, five-game day in Hofstra's HEADstrong Classic. Many teams came together, donning neon green shoelaces as a tribute to the late Hofstra men's lacrosse team member, Nick Colleluori, founder of the HEADstrong Foundation, which raises money for cancer research.
The following weekend, we played games at both Dartmouth and UMass, but the true highlight of the weekend was Sunday's Friends of Jaclyn 5K Race at Amherst College. For the second year, we were humbled by the emotional stories and words of inspiration by families battling pediatric brain cancer. After an intra-squad scrimmage, we welcomed back the 2009 alumni for a fun weekend and banquet to honor their careers. We wrapped up the fall season with a confidence-building performance against a strong Boston University team, leaving us anxious to return to competition.
Finally, as we welcome 2010 and say goodbye to 2009, I just wanted to recap some of this year's lighter moments. Inspired by the many "Best of" countdowns circulating within the media, I racked my brain to reflect on some of our own most memorable moments. So, without further adieu, the Top Ten List of Fall Ball '09 (well, the appropriate ones, anyway):
10. Gunns slipping on the acorns: While walking to the bus for a pre-dawn departure on game day, Lauren Gunning was taken down by a pile of acorns.
9. Commitment to the nickname "Snorton" for Steph Norton: Self-explanatory.
8. Katie Devaney and Megan Lally's Irish Step Dance Routine: As part of a stick-work routine to be presented to the team, the pair broke into a choreographed Irish Dance sequence, earning the routine challenge victory and the right to teach the rest of us their moves.
7. Transformation of Dorian [Gilmartin-Dzitko] to "Kelly." Overwhelmed by the number of names to be learned, someone called her "Kelly," and it stuck. Fortunately, there is no other Kelly the team, and "Kel" has embraced this nickname.
6. Ike [Laura Eichert] and I wearing one-piece bathing suits, swim caps and ankle braces to practice: It seemed like a good idea at the time, until it was in front of the entire baseball team.
5. The Halloween Jib-Jab video featuring a dance-duet between Strength and Conditioning Coach, Coach [Andrew] Wilson, and team manager, Dramere [Graham]: Enough said.
4. Jenna [Moulton] and [Jessica] Mucci's WWF match: The 1v1 challenge in which participants battle for possession of a soccer ball was taken to a whole new level when these fierce competitors were matched up. All was fair in lacrosse and competition week, as the two scratched, clawed and drop-kicked one another in the quest for the alluring soccer ball.
3. Molly [O'Brien] and Cat's [Gross] odd talent war: It all started with a challenge to Molly's donut eating abilities, then came the mention of singing "Lip Gloss," all leading to Molly's infamous quote: "Well, hey Cat, do you know the Cupid Shuffle?"
2. [Brittney] Testa tickling Devaney: Again the soccer ball challenge brought unexpected entertainment, as Testa tickled Devaney to make her let go of the ball en route to victory.
1. Mucci tripping over the ball bag: At full speed. With the ball in her stick. During 7v7.
Here's to a safe and happy holiday, and more memorable moments, both on and off the field, in 2010.
