Q & A with Women's Lacrosse

1. Before Plymouth, what was your experience in lacrosse?

Kristen Guest- My experience with lacrosse was minimal before coming to Plymouth. I did participate in both youth and high school lacrosse, but I did not make any significant improvements during my high school career. Coming to Plymouth as a freshman, I had no intention of playing but I met a couple girls from the team who told me that Coach Blanchette was desperate for players, so I gave it a shot. Little did I know this lacrosse program would be one of the most important parts of my life and shape me into the person I am today. I learned more in 4 weeks of fall ball my freshman year than I did throughout all of high school. I am so thankful for our coaching staff and my parents for believing and seeing an athlete and a leader in me.

Lorin Field- I have been playing since I was 10 years old. I also come from a very strong high school program, which helped me prepare for Plymouth. 

Molly Gleason- I began my lacrosse career my freshman year at Haverhill High School. The Women's Lacrosse program at Haverhill was fairly new and I had only joined the team as a fun after school activity. My junior year in high school I realized that lacrosse was something that I wished to pursue in college. In an effort to increase my knowledge of the sport I joined Homegrown Lacrosse Club Team my junior and senior year of high school. 

Anna Kirwan- I started playing lacrosse in the 3^rd grade for my town.  When I was in 5^th-8^th grade I played for the Mass Elite team, and 9^th-12^th grade I played on the varsity team at Archbishop Williams High School.

2.Do you have any pre-game rituals?

KG- Of course! Our team only has about 4 home games each season, so we are on the road a lot. Since sophomore year (thanks to Caitlin Swanson), before each game I listen to the Al Pacino speech, Any Given Sunday. Beginning last year, Coach started buying us snacks for traveling to games and I found a new love for fruit leather! I eat at least 3 on every bus ride.

LF- Absolutely I do!!! I play wall ball to get my hands going before the game and have to listen to Don't Get Caught Slipping By Ace Hood on repeat. It is a must!

MG- Yes, I do have a pre-game ritual! During every game I wear eye black in the form of upside-down triangles. But I refuse to apply this eye black myself and rely on my senior teammate Amanda Richardson to smear in on my face before every game. I have no idea what I will do without her next year!!

AK- The only pre-game rituals I have are taking a good nap and listening to music that pumps me up.

3. How has this team improved since last year/fall ball? A ton, we are constantly improving everyday in practice and in games. Both our defense and offensive have grown tremendous amounts since this fall. 

KG- We spent a lot of time together in the fall getting to know each other and learn each other's tendencies. Although we are a relatively young team, this is the first year that the senior and junior classes are composed completely of Coach Blanchette's players. Over the past four years she has provided us everything we need to be a successful team. She possesses so much passion and knowledge of the game, and we finally have girls with skill and game sense that can execute her game plans. 

LF- A ton, we are constantly improving everyday in practice and in games. Both our defense and offensive have grown tremendous amounts since this fall. 

MG- The team has improved so much since last year! I feel that the team fully grasps the concept of the game. I am also confident that anyone of my teammates could be on the field at anytime and would step up to the plate. This year every player is capable of contributing to our success. 

AK- Even though it hasn't been a lot of time, I can already see changes in our game as a whole and as individuals from the start of fall ball to the beginning of this season.

4.What are you looking the most forward to with the Spring Break trip to Colorado?

KG- I cannot wait for Colorado! Oregon and Texas was so much fun and were more than I ever could have expected. It is really exciting to have the opportunity to play teams that no one else from our area does. This year we are spending the entire week in Colorado, and I cannot even begin to imagine what Coach has planned for us! 

LF- Everything!! Coach Blanchette has a lot planned for us over that week, so I can't wait to see what she has in store.  Going to Colorado is on my bucket list, so I'm super excited. Less than two weeks to go!!

MG- I cannot wait for Colorado and I know it will be amazing. Coach Blanchette loves to surprise us and we have been told that this spring break trip will be full of adventures; we just do not know what those adventures entail just yet. I am most looking forward to the excitement that comes along with a big surprise. Bubbles' (Amy MacDonald) facial expressions kill me every time!

AK- Other than the experience of traveling and playing good teams in Colorado, I know we are in for a lot of awesome surprises from our coaches.  And spending a whole week with just my team is an added bonus.

5. Who/What is the biggest key for this team to be successful in the 2013 campaign?

KG- I think the biggest keys for the team this season is dedication and hard work. Starting with the senior class, we have pretty much experienced everything. We have been the underdogs, we have been season champs, and we had a losing season. Through the ups and the downs of the past four years, the five of us have stuck with it. We did not falter, we did not doubt, and we did not quit. The five of us devoted ourselves to this team, this program and the dream of becoming LEC champions. We are committed and determined to leave this school with a championship, and with the rest of the team right with us, dedicating themselves to this dream, there is no doubt in my mind that we will win the championship this year.

LF- Everyone working together with the same goal in mind.  It's key for us to be a close team/family unit.

MG- The biggest key for our future success is our coaching staff. They treat us like professionals and that encourages us work like professionals. Every single one of my teammates trusts our coaching staff 100% and fully believes in their vision for this team. This team is going places and the coaching staff has the tools to get us there. 

AK- I think that it truly takes everyone from the players, to the managers, to the coaches.  Everyone has a very important role on the team and it is going to take everyone putting in 100% to make us successful.

6. What are your individual expectations for this season?

KG- I have high expectations for myself for this season. I have grown so much as a person and as a leader, and I owe it to Coach to lead this team to a championship. We were a very successful team last year, but unfortunately we fell short. I expect this team to work hard and leave everything on the field. I want to graduate without regrets, knowing there is nothing I would have or could have done differently. 

LF- To win the LEC!

MG- Individually I hope to make my weaknesses my strengths and encourage my teammates to do the same. I will also continue to work to master the draw control. A personal goal of mine is to take all instruction/advice given to me by my teammates and coaching staff and effectively apply it to my game. 

AK- I personally am just looking to do my best on the field and off the field and learn a lot from my upperclassmen and coaches.

7. What are your expectations for the team this year?

KG- Like I mentioned previously, I expect this team to work hard, be dedicated and most of all, win the LEC championship.  I can feel it. This is our year.

LF- I really just want to see all the girls work hard, come to practice and games ready to work. I think we have a lot of potential to Win LEC!! Beyond the on field action, I think there is a lot of room for all of us to grow individual as people and work as a cohesive unit. 

MG- I expect to go undefeated this season and continue on to win the Little East Conference Championship. This will lead us directly to the NCAA tournament where I expect us to turn heads and win the NCAA Division III Championship. This team has an unbelievable work ethic, which will take us far. This is not a pipe dream but something I truly believe in, this team has what it takes to be champions. 

AK- I think that we have a very good chance of winning LEC's this year with how hard we have been working and how much talent we have.  This is the most prepared I have ever felt going into a season, and if we work hard I know great things are going to happen.