Women crush Ladies in 10-point lax rout

Team uses 11-2 halftime advantage to breeze to victory

Saturday, the women's lacrosse team escaped the College of Wooster's fiery sticks with an 8-7 victory over the Fighting Scots.

After a tie-breaking goal by senior Katherine Roberts, the team did the smartest thing possible: they played keep away.

In a subpar first-half performance, the team didn't complete a single clean transition pass-and-catch until the final ten minutes and went into half-time down 4-7.

"We were lackadasical and asleep," Assistant Coach Blake New said. "We struggled; we were out of it for the first half."

"We had no energy," first-year Kathryn Lanouette said.

Lanouette watched from the sidelines with the flu and junior Amy Keith was hobbled by an injury as Wooster took a one point half-time lead. With only one sub, the team had trouble adjusting to their different positions.

Even on a bad day, though, the team still had the confidence to pull out a victory.

"We did a good job of being patient and not getting down when we were down," New said. "We didn't panic; we just kept playing and we started to be successful."

Senior Amy Kremen and Roberts came through when they had to. Kremen put in four goals and Roberts added three.

"It was sneaking out with a victory," New said. "It was ugly but we'll take it."

On Wednesday, the team came out at full keel and throttled the Kenyon College Ladies, 18-8 to bring the team to a 5-1 conference record, 5-4 overall. They are on now a collision course with Denison University for the conference championship.

In Wednesday's game the team had no problem passing and catching their way to a 11-2 half-time lead.

Kremen led the scoring with five goals while Roberts contributed four. Senior Atsuko Sakurai also had four. Co-captain senior Anne Ewens put in two goals to go along with her two assists.

First-year Mary Sara Salvania added two and sophomore Sarah Bergman rounded out the scoring with one goal.

"Our goal was to get up early and get a big lead," Coach Mindy Manolovich said. According to Manolovich it was the team's best conference performance to date.

"It was one of our best transition passing games," Manolovich said.

This weekend, the women's lacrosse team travels to Lynchberg College on Saturday and Bridgewater College on Sunday for two non-conference games.

Keeper: The Yeowomen harass Kenyon College's goalie during the team's victory Wednesday. With a 5-1 conference record the team is already thinking repeat. (photo by Mike Kabakoff)