Interview with Women's Lacrosse Head Coach Kristin Blanchette

1. Your team is currently 9-2, and is riding a five game winning streak. What has allowed this team to be successful so far in 2013?

 The individual focus and drive behind each player on the team. This group has worked extremely hard not only this season but since last summer when they began training. The heartbreaking loss in last year's playoffs has been an ingrained memory in these players' heads that drives them to work incredibly hard everyday. I think it probably was one of the best things that could have happened.

2. This team has had a number of come-from-behind wins this year. What does this tell you about the team's character?

They never give up and work together to get the win. I've never seen a group of individuals who want to win as badly as this 2013 team.

3. Having already clinched a first-round bye in the LEC tournament, how will you play the last couple of regular season games?

With the same amount of intensity and focus as every game we have played so far this season

4. This team hasn't lost a LEC regular season game since the 2011 season. This team is able to be successful in conference play because...

They have the experience needed in order to seal the deal in the competitive conference games. We also have outstanding leadership and everyone on the team has extreme determination to accomplish our goal of winning LEC's

5. How do seven individual players on the team having double-digit point totals (so far in 2013) allow the attack to have the upper hand against an opponent?

 Our opponents can't focus in on just one or two people. With 7 threats on our attack, it makes it every hard for other teams to defend us. If they focus on one or two players, everyone else steps up. They not only are great individual players but they work extremely well together which makes our attack very potent and dangerous.

6. Who do you see as being the player with the biggest improvement from last year?

Probably Amy MacDonald. She went from being a decent contributor on our attack to one of our biggest attacking threats on the field. She has worked extremely hard over the last year to develop her stick work and her shot and you can see the difference immediately. She is much more dynamic than last year and continues to develop everyday because she is so coachable and hungry to succeed.

7. Talk about each individual senior on the team, and how their leadership is crucial for the team's success.

All of them have significant leadership qualities and roles on the team. Caitlin is the do it all leader and has the "lets get down to business" type of attitude. She leads by example on all ends of the field. KG is similar and is able to lead by example on the field and does a great job communicating and inspiring her teammates. Marie and Amanda are more behind the scenes leaders and do a lot of important tasks off of the field that are crucial to our success. They are the quiet and gentle leaders who have great rapports with every individual on the team. Ally B is our vocal leader. She is so loud and energetic and brings it to every practice and game. You can always hear Ally B no matter how loud the fans are. She gets everyone going and fired up. 

8. How have your goalies Lorin Field and Casey Curran been playing this year?

They have both been playing very well. It's nice to have such a strong back up goalie in Casey Curran. Fieldz isn't going to be perfect every game and when we need to give her a rest or a break Casey is always ready and comes up big.

9. Who has been the MVP (or MVPs) so far this season?

I really can't say. We talk about how everyone has a job on this team and each person has to do it well in order for us to succeed. So far, everyone has been fantastic at doing what they need to do and that's why we have experienced so much success.

10. What will lead this team to being the LEC post-season champions? 

Continuing this focus, drive and intensity. We have to kick it into fifth gear, remain happy, healthy and hungry for that title. There's nothing crazy that we have to do just continue on the path we are on for two + more weeks