Lacrosse women seeking revenge in 2010

A lot can be said about home-field advantage. Having fans’ positive reassurance and critical attitude toward even the simplest of mistakes by the opposing team can show its effectiveness in a team’s home record.

   Perhaps no team knows this better than the University at Albany women’s lacrosse team.  In the team’s 2009 campaign, after winning their first game of the season in Moraga, Calif., the Great Danes lost their next five on the road before picking up their second road win at Temple.

   Meanwhile, at home last season UAlbany won its first four home games before dropping the final one to rival UMBC 9-6. The team finished with an overall record of 9-8 which was their first winning season since 2000. It included a 5-6-road record, a 0-1 record at neutral sites and was saved by a 4-1 home record.

   This year’s team realizes the importance of such games, and the players are pleased to see eight home games on their 2010 schedule.

   “I think home [field] is a big advantage,” said senior midfielder Kayla Best. “Our own fans are a big help, so we’re excited for that.”

   Junior attacker Jodi Battaglia realizes the difficulty away games can present and believes if the team remains focused then it will do much better this year on opposing turf.
 

  “We have to be able to play in different elements and control that aspect. Then we’ll be better,” Battaglia said.

   She, too, is excited for the opportunity more home games presents.

   “We love having the support and having our parents around, fans and our friends,” she said. “It’s very [encouraging]. Hopefully it pays off.”
 

  The Danes are looking forward to their matchups with conference rivals Boston University and — more importantly — New Hampshire.

   UAlbany’s first home game last season saw the team upset the then-No. 13 New Hampshire Wildcats 16-15 in overtime thanks to four goals by then-sophomore Mel Rorie. Her final and decisive goal put UAlbany up by one with 11 seconds to go.

   The two teams met each other again in the semifinals of the America East, but the Wildcats sent UAlbany home with a 17-9 loss.

   “We’re looking to make a statement [against New Hampshire],” Battaglia said. “We want to show them that we’ve done it before and we can do it again. We just need to take care of the little things, and hopefully the big things will come.”

   Best agreed, calling Boston University and New Hampshire the two big conference teams the Danes are looking forward to playing — especially the Wildcats.

   “I think that’s a really big game for us, showing them that even though we did beat them and then [the semifinals happened] that we are a better team, and we will beat them again,” Best said. “They basically have the same attack as last year, so we’re going to have to step up our game and work harder.”

   The Danes are predicted to finish tied for third in the America East Conference this season as voted on by the coaches of the conference. Most of the top point scorers will be returning for the Danes this season. This list includes Best, who led the team with 53 points on 42 goals and 11 assists, Rorie, who was second with 48 points on 40 goals and eight assists, and Battaglia, who was third with 43 points on 38 goals and five assists.

   One of the big changes this years is at the goalie position as senior Ashley Ross will be taking over. Ross starred as a goalkeeper for the UAlbany field hockey team before joining the lacrosse team last year.

   Ross played in four games last season and finished with five goals against and three saves. Ross’s teammates are confident that she can take over and perform well at the position.

   “[Ross] is very, very good,” Best said. “She’s new, but our coach has helped her a lot. We are very confident in her.”

   The team begins its season tomorrow when they travel to Poughkeepsie as they look to get their first win against Marist.